Irish golf wunderkind Rory McIlroy is fast on his was to becoming world number one - or so he says himself.

The 22-year-old told the Belfast Telegraph this week that he intends to achieve his goal within the next 12 months.

McIlroy is currently number three in the world after a third place finish in the KLM Open in Holland at the weekend, and he's not shy about his ambition to claw his way to the top.

'Next season definitely,' he said. 'Luke Donald still has quite a healthy lead, but as long as I can get closer to the top two guys by the end of the year and give myself a good platform to attack it next year that’s really the main goal for the rest of the season."

Meanwhile McIlroy admitted he's delighted to have gotten over the wrist injury he sustained in last month’s US PGA Championship.

"I've had a decent few weeks, especially as after the wrist injury I didn’t know how I was going to play when I came back. But the fact that it has all gone to plan is good and I’m up to third in the world now which is a nice achievement."
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