World No. 1 Rory McIlroy is set to face the media later today when he hosts a pre-tournament WGC – Cadillac Championship at the Blue Monster cousre in Miami.

Indeed McIlroy’s walk off from last week’s defence of his Honda Classic has turned into  a  monster with everyone offering opinion.

McIlroy has issued two formal statements, firstly indicating he was suffering with a wisdom tooth concern, and then earlier this week remarking what he did in walking off the PGA National was ‘wrong’.

Four-time Major winning Ernie Els admits you’re more ‘exposed’ as the No. 1 player in the world. (Photo – www.golfbytourmiss.com)

Former World No. 1 Ernie Els has also spoken at length including commenting that he wished he had done more in encouraging the Northern Irishman not to leave the course.

We’ll learn more what was going in McIlroy’s mind when he visits the Media Centre at 9am local time.

However Els admits being the game’s best ranked player does leave you exposed to more scrutiny and criticism than if McIlroy were ranked 5o places higher on the rankings.

“Well, you know, I was No. 1 I think back in ’98 and listen, you feel, I wouldn’t say lonely is the word, but you’re exposed,” said Els.

“People look at you and you’re kind of the leader of the pack.  In a way, you have to act accordingly.  You have to show that you’re No. 1 in your game.  You’ve got to perform.

“There’s a lot of guys out there that want to be wherever you are.  So you have to out‑work them, you have to out‑play them.  I think that you’ve got to be the No. 1 player.  With that, you know, there comes a lot of work and with that is a lot of stress put on your shoulders.

“So you’re a guy walking around with a lot more pressure than the guy that’s 50th in the world, I can promise you.”