Newly-engaged Rory McIlroy confessed he was more nervous proposing to Caroline Wozniacki than standing over of the putts to win any of his two Majors along or eight other victories around the globe.

McIlroy had been expecting to propose to the Danish tennis ace in Brisbane where Wozniacki was due to compete in the Brisbane International.

However when she withdrew with a shoulder injury McIlroy’s two-week old proposal plan was dashed and instead he found himself heading south to the New South Wales capital and a late entry into the APIA Sydney International.

The couple found themselves on Sydney Harbour moored just close the famed Sydney Opera House and enjoying the spectacular Sydney Harbour Bridge fireworks display.

At some time during the evening McIlroy finally worked-up the courage to get down on one knee and ask for Wozniacki’s hand in marriage.

“I was sweating a lot, a lot,” he admitted ahead of this week’s Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship.

“I had an idea she would say ‘yes’ but you never really know till it actually happens.  It was a great and a great way to start the New Year.

“I had been thinking about it for a while and asked Caroline’s parents in the middle of December, so they knew for a couple of weeks before I asked Caroline.

“It is a big step in anyone’s life and knowing that everything in that regard in my life is set.  It’s a big step in anyone’s life to make that decision, and it’s not one that you sort of take lightly.  If you get engaged, you plan on spending the rest of your life with that person, so it’s a big decision but I feel like she’s definitely the right girl for me.”

It was not lost on McIlroy that he should ‘pop the question’ less than 10 kilometres from the Royal Sydney Golf Club at Rose Bay where weeks earlier he captured his only tournament victory of 2013 in denying overwhelming home favourite, Adam Scott to win the Australian Open.

“Yes, that’s amazing that Caroline and myself were so close to where I won last month,” he said

“There must be something about the air in Sydney as the city has been good to me.   I had a photo of Caroline and I taken from the top of Sydney Tower in January last year as my Twitter page photo and now I’ve got a photo of that night on New Year’s Eve on Sydney Harbour as my new Twitter page photo, and so does Caroline.”

McIlroy and Wozniacki indicated also they have not confirmed a wedding date.