- Associated Press - Wednesday, May 23, 2012

VIRGINIA WATER, ENGLAND (AP) - Winning the U.S. Open last year earned Rory McIlroy his first major title and made him believe he was ready to become the best player in the world.

After climbing to the top of the rankings this spring, the 23-year-old Northern Irishman wants to stay there. He leads the field heading into the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth, his first appearance in Europe in seven months

McIlroy says Wednesday that “after Congressional last year, I started thinking of myself as definitely one of the elite players.”

He says “you have to believe that you’re the best, and I certainly do believe that. And it’s just a matter of going out there and showing everyone else what I believe.”

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