Rory McIlroy is currently World No. 1 but he’s boldly thrown down the gauntlet to his rivals declaring he is golf’s best player.

The reigning U.S. Open champion is certainly brimming with confidence having paraded the gleaming U.S. Open trophy for all to see at Tuesday night’s gala black-tie Tour dinner.

Rory McIlroy explains a point during his pre-BMW PGA press conference at Wentworth. (Photo - Fran Caffrey/www.golffile.ie)

“It’s great to be back playing in Europe as I haven’t played in Europe since the Dunhill last year,” he said.

“It’s a great field on a great golf course with a few changes that have been made for this year and have improved the golf course.

“That should result in lower scores and that’s what the fans want to see plus it looks like being great weather for the week.”

McIlroy first visited Wentworth as a 10-year old chasing after the likes of Colin Montgomerie, Ernie Els, Mark O’Meara and fellow Irishman Padraig Harrington.

But this week it will be McIlroy who everyone will be chasing around the famed ‘Burma Road’ course.

And when quizzed if he thought he was the best player in the world there was no holding back McIlroy.

“You have to believe that you’re better than anyone else, or at least believe it,” he declared.

“On my day, I believe I can beat anyone in the world.  It’s just finding that capability of when you’re not playing your best to still come out on top.  That’s the thing I’m trying to learn how to do, because I’ve proved in the past that when I am on my game, I’m pretty hard to beat.

“So 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.”