World No. 1 Rory McIlroy finally stepped on the gas this season posting a bogey-free final round seven under par 65 on the final day of the WGc – Cadillac Championship.

McIlroy looked every par a double Major champion and producing one of the lowest completed rounds early on in round four.

McIlroy, wearing a striking purple shirt,  kick-started his day eagling the first and then snatched five birdies to jump from a share of 30th place to a then share of ninth place as the leaders headed to the Trump Doral back nine.

At the first, McIlroy drilled a 330-yard drive to within 185-yards of the hole and then found the green before delighing a big gallery in recording his first eagle of 2013.

His round was McIlroy’s lowest score since a first round 64 last September on route to capturing the BMW Championship at Crooked Stick in Indiana.

McIlroy arrived at Trump Doral in damage control mode after having walked off after just eight holes during round two of last week’s defence of his Honda Classic title.

Rory McIlroy on route to shooting his best score five months on the final day of the WGC – Cadillac Championship. (Photo – Fran Caffrey/www.golffile.ie)

However he leaves the suburban Miami course having silenced many of those critics with a display in the blustery and testing conditions worthy of the game’s highest-ranked player.

A week ago, Rory McIlroy couldn’t have imagined a round like today.

“I was pretty down about my game coming into this week but a day like today felt like a long way away if I’m honest,” he said.

“A few days like I’ve played, it does my confidence a world of good.

“I probably wear my heart on my sleeve a bit with my golf. If I have a bad round, it’s sort of like the end of the world, but if I play a good one, I’m happy again.”

Now with the Masters five weeks ago, McIlroy has good cause to be pleased heading to Augusta National.

He’ll play in Ernie Els’ tournament on Monday to benefit the Els for Autism Foundation before spending next weekend with girlfriend Caroline Wozniacki, who will be in Miami.

Then he’ll play the Shell Houston Open before heading to Augusta the week before the tournament.

“I always think when I’m playing bad that it’s further away than it is,” McIlroy said of his play.

“That’s just where I have to stay patient and let whatever happens, happen, and know that if I put in the hard work, that the results will bear fruit; whether that’s sooner or later, it doesn’t really matter.”