(CNN) -- After finishing tied for 40th at the Masters in April, Rory McIlroy might have been expected to throw himself into a punishing training regime. After all, golf's U.S. Open champion was one of the tipsters' favorites to take the title in Augusta. But the 22-year-old Northern Irishman, so often hyped as the next Tiger Woods, failed to erase memories of his nightmare collapse at the same tournament 12 months previously. But McIlroy didn't brood. He didn't even pick up a club. Instead the world No. 2 flew to Europe for a vacation with his girlfriend, Danish tennis star Caroline Wozniacki.
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U.S. Open champion Rory McIlroy returns to PGA Tour after a disappointing Masters,
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Instead of training, the 22-year-old went on a holiday with girlfriend Caroline Wozniacki
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McIlroy cuts down his schedule of events, saying he doesn't want to burn out
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The Northern Irishman is feeling confident at Quail Hollow, where he won in 2010
He also became the first player since @placeholder to win a PGA Tour event before his 21st birthday.