Rory hits No 1 in popularity stakes ahead of Doral D-Day

Rory McIlroy scored a huge public relations victory over Tiger Woods before a shot was struck in the WGC-Cadillac Championship at Doral’s Blue Monster.

But the new world number one knows that while he makes Woods look like an 18-handicapper in the press room, he’s going to have to produce his best stuff on the course to hold off the 14-time major winner on one of his favourite courses.

Woods will be bidding for his 17th World Golf Championship title and his seventh win at Doral when he tees it up with Sergio Garcia and defending champion Nick Watney today.