Rory McIlroy has moved to dampen expectations that he can make a successful debut in The Players Championship this week at TPC Sawgrass.
After a much-needed two-week lay-off that saw him take in Las Vegas for Ricky Hatton's ill-fated date with Manny Pacquiao last Saturday, McIlroy resumes competition at the PGA Tour's flagship event.
The Northern Irish golfer, who celebrated his 20th birthday on Monday, is making his third trip to the United States this year having broken the top 20 in the world rankings with his maiden professional victory at the European Tour's Dubai Desert Classic on February 1.
With three big tournaments looming back in Europe, starting next week at the 3 Irish Open at Baltray, McIlroy has warned people not to expect too much in Florida this week.
"I've got three big ones coming up in Europe after this," McIlroy said. "I've got a four-week stretch so I'm trying to pace myself for the big ones in Europe but it would be great to do here as well.
"My two weeks off, I was completely drained after Hilton Head, took the first week off and then started to practise last week.
"I still feel like I'm hitting it pretty good. But it's still the first week back - if I can finish up there, give myself a chance, top 15 or top 10, I'd be pretty happy.
"If I can play the way I know I can, I know I will be up there."
McIlroy's pro debut in America earned him rave reviews and lots of media coverage in the USA when he reached the quarter-finals of the WGC-Accenture Match Play Championship in Tucson at the end of February.
Then he further enhanced his reputation Stateside as one of the game's brightest prospects with four consecutive top-20 finishes in stroke-play tournaments.
The last was a tie for 20th on his Masters debut but the Northern Irishman ran out of steam the week after his Augusta National adventure, finishing two over par at the Verizon Heritage on Hilton Head Island, South Carolina, in a tie for 58th.
McIlroy said his American experience had been a steep learning curve but he was now feeling more comfortable on the PGA Tour.
"I think it is not actually the golf, it's everything that comes with being a tour pro, like press conferences, you don't do that as an amateur.
"But it's just about getting used to being on tour - playing with guys you have watched on TV all your life. It's a little daunting at the beginning but once you get to know them you realise they are just normal guys.
"Once I started playing well I began to feel more comfortable and I am comfortable being out here now."
Now the 20-year-old gets to tick off another goal in his fledgling career before turning his attentions to an important date back home.
"At the back of last year my goal was to get into the Masters, the World Golf Championships and get into the top 50 and this is another event that was high on that priority list to be able to play in it - it is probably the best field of the year.
"I've been off for a couple of weeks and so I am just trying to get back into it, and after this I have the big one next week with the Irish Open."
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