In one of his more ‘open’ interviews for some time, Rory McIlroy talks about his responsibility as a role model to youngsters and how wealth hasn’t spoilt him.

McIlroy reveals to www.golfbytourmiss.com how he is deep into reading about the lives of sport stars who don’t play golf and how his new girlfriend Caroline Wozinacki is becoming a better golfer quicker than he’s grasping tennis.

For a 22-year old, life does not come any easier with fame and fortune now Rory McIlroy’s constant companions.

And life only got better for McIlroy following a chance meeting at a World Heavyweight Boxing match earlier this year in Hamburg.

There is the crowd and just a few seats away from McIlroy was World No. 1 tennis player, Caroline Wozniacki.

An exchange of phone numbers and now the attractive born Dane is also one of McIlroy’s companions.

The young couple recently spent their first serious time together away from golf and tennis when the young couple relaxed on the white sand beaches of the Maldives before a week in Dubai and just ahead of McIlroy heading to Hainan Island for the World Cup of Golf.

Rory McIlroy and Caroline Wozinacki - one of the hottest couples in sport.

It was in Dubai where McIlroy arranged with one of the pros at the Els Cub for Wozinacki to have her very first golf lesson.

“I took her for a lesson the Wednesday night before I went to the World Cup with a good friend of mine who one of the pros at the Els Club,” he said.

“I would be hopeless at teaching someone to play golf and it’s hard to explain because golf just so natural for me.

“At the end of the lesson she was hitting 7-irons about 140-yards.  Being a tennis player her upper body is pretty strong but she’s struggling a bit because she always hanging back on her right side, as they do in tennis.

“When she can learn to shift her weight to the left side, she’s going to be so much better.

“So for the time being she has more potential at golf than I do at tennis. 

“The thing is that when I play tennis the competitive side in me comes to the fore and I want to play well every time but it just doesn’t happen as it does so easily for me in golf.

“But I would get more frustrated on the tennis court than I would on a golf course.  I want to be able to grasp tennis straight away.

“However I have to say it’s really not the reason we spend time together so that I can improve my tennis game (smiling).  I will let her focus on the tennis and I will stick with golf.”

Though it comes somewhat as a surprise that the books in McIlroy’s possession at present do not focus on the likes of Nicklaus, Hogan or Palmer but Rafa Nadal and Andre Agassi, two of the best-ever to grace a tennis court.

Rory McIlroy drawing inspiration after reading Rafa Nadal's book

And in reading the autobiographies of Nadal and Agassi, and in talking openly with Wozniacki about her mental make-up, McIlroy is many ways is strengthening his own mind ahead of dealing with the hurdles he will face in golf.

“When Caroline and I might discuss our own sport, I am very interested in how she prepares herself for the mental side of big tennis tournaments like how she goes about setting goals or whatever,” he said.

“That sort of discussion I have with her gives me a good insight into how she deals with similar issues I might face. 

“And I actually just finished Rafa Nadal’s book a couple of days ago and that was a pretty good insight into his mindset.

“You look at Nadal and you thing he’s unbreakable but in reading his book I read how mentally fragile he feels he still is yet he’s already won 10 Grand Slam titles.

“I’ve also got Andre Agassi’s book and I’m looking forward to reading that.”

But while the affection between McIlroy and Wozinacki is very much in its infancy stage, McIlroy increasingly finds himself very much a role model among golf fans half his age.

This has been very prevalent in recent weeks when the reigning U.S. Open winner travelled to China for four separate tournaments, the seven-day China Challenge, back-to-back events in Shanghai and then last week’s Mission Hills World Cup.

Observing Chinese youngsters at last week’s World Cup tugging on the arms of their parents to get them close to McIlroy is being mirrored all over the golfing globe. 

And they’re going home to be tucked into their beds with pictures on McIlroy adorning the walls.

Rory McIlroy more than ever being mobbed by adoring youngsters.

It’s all very different to the late 90s when ‘Tigermania’ began engulfing the golf world as it was fans of all ages walking the fairways with Woods.

“I’ve realised that this year more than any other year I am becoming more of a role model to children and I am striving to get better at embracing that responsibility,” said McIlroy.

“It is a role that is quite important to me.  I want to try and set a good example because I feel as though I had a couple of pretty good role models growing up.  

“I understand what impact I can have on young children and what they think about me and the game of golf.

“But it’s very nice for kids to come up to me and say ‘you’re my role model’ and  that ‘you’re my favourite golfer’ and that’s great.

“In travelling to places like Haiti as I did earlier this year and then to Japan for the ‘Earthquake and Tsunami Appeal’, it puts everything into perspective.  I am very fortunate that a lot of people know me all over the world, and to have this status is an honour, a privilege and something I respect.

“Sometimes I might think that it would be nice to disappear to some place for a few weeks where no one knows me but that’s my style.”

McIlroy’s outlook is very much a continuing tribute to his parents, Rosie and Gerry, and while he’s already amassed vast wealth from simply hitting a golf ball off a tee, the feet of this 22-year old remain still firmly planted on the ground.

“It’s funny because sometimes I will sit back and feel a bit guilty because I don’t feel as though I have worked that hard for what I now possess in life,” he said.

“But my feet are planted firmly on the ground and I’m not at the level where I am flying all over the world in a private jet.

“I’ve sold the few cars I owned and I am very, very safe with the money I have in the bank. I have invested in a few properties but nothing too outrageous and I’ve invested money in my golf game by building my own practice facility back home.

“So what I have invested in is my career.

“But really there is not much I need because I am very happy with what I’ve got.   Also I owe my mum and dad so much for what they gave up for me when I was travelling all over the world to play before I had reached 18.”

McIlroy arrived in Hong Kong last night (MON) after a yet another profile-building endeavour when he joined Japanese heart-throb Ryo Ishikawa in a Yokohama charity match in aid of the Japan Earthquake and Tsunami appeal.

McIlroy could have easily opted out and spent the day relaxing in Hong Kong, and especially after the disappointment of he and Graeme McDowell losing the World Cup.

But then that’s not McIlroy’s manner!

If there is one thing that frustrates Rory McIlroy it’s seeing new girlfriend, Caroline Wozniacki grasping golf quicker than he is taking to tennis.

McIlroy and the attractive-looking Dane is one of the hottest young couples in sport after the current World No. 2 golfer and present World No. 1 tennis player enjoyed a chance meeting at a World Heavyweight boxing match earlier this year in Hamburg.

McIlroy and Wozinacki recently spent their first serious time together away from golf and tennis when the young couple relaxed on the white sand beaches of the Maldives before a week in Dubai and just ahead of McIlroy heading to Hainan Island for the World Cup of Golf.

It was in Dubai where McIlroy arranged with one of the pros at the Els Cub for Wozinacki to have her very first golf lesson.

“I took her for a lesson the Wednesday night before I went to the World Cup with a good friend of mine who one of the pros at the Els Club,” he said.

“I would be hopeless at teaching someone to play golf and it’s hard to explain because golf just so natural for me.

“At the end of the lesson she was hitting 7-irons about 140-yards.  Being a tennis player her upper body is pretty strong but she’s struggling a bit because she always hanging back on her right side, as they do in tennis.

“When she can learn to shift her weight to the left side, she’s going to be so much better.

“So for the time being she has more potential at golf than I do at tennis. 

“The thing is that when I play tennis the competitive side in me comes to the fore and I want to play well every time but it just doesn’t happen as it does so easily for me in golf.

“But I would get more frustrated on the tennis court than I would on a golf course.  I want to be able to grasp tennis straight away.

“However I have to say it’s really not the reason we spend time together so that I can improve my tennis game (smiling).  I will let her focus on the tennis and I will stick with golf.”

Though it comes somewhat as a surprise that the books in McIlroy’s possession at present do not focus on the likes of Nicklaus, Hogan or Palmer but Rafa Nadal and Andre Agassi, two of the best-ever to grace a tennis court.

And in reading the autobiographies of Nadal and Agassi, and in talking openly with Wozniacki about her mental make-up, McIlroy is many ways is strengthening his own mind ahead of dealing with the hurdles he will face in golf.

“When Caroline and I might discuss our own sport, I am very interested in how she prepares herself for the mental side of big tennis tournaments like how she goes about setting goals or whatever,” he said.

“That sort of discussion I have with her gives me a good insight into how she deals with similar issues I might face. 

“And I actually just finished Rafa Nadal’s book a couple of days ago and that was a pretty good insight into his mindset.

“You look at Nadal and you thing he’s unbreakable but in reading his book I read how mentally fragile he feels he still is yet he’s already won 10 Grand Slam titles.

“I’ve also got Andre Agassi’s book and I’m looking forward to reading that.”

But while the affection between McIlroy and Wozinacki is very much in its infancy stage, McIlroy increasingly finds himself very much a role model among golf fans half his age.

This has been very prevalent in recent weeks when the reigning U.S. Open winner travelled to China for four separate tournaments, the seven-day China Challenge, back-to-back events in Shanghai and then last week’s Mission Hills World Cup.

Observing Chinese youngsters at last week’s World Cup tugging on the arms of their parents to get them close to McIlroy is being mirrored all over the golfing globe. 

And they’re going home to be tucked into their beds with pictures on McIlroy adorning the walls.

It’s all very different to the late 90s when ‘Tigermania’ began engulfing the golf world as it was fans of all ages walking the fairways with Woods.

“I’ve realised that this year more than any other year I am becoming more of a role model to children and I am striving to get better at embracing that responsibility,” said McIlroy.

“It is a role that is quite important to me.  I want to try and set a good example because I feel as though I had a couple of pretty good role models growing up.  

“I understand what impact I can have on young children and what they think about me and the game of golf.

“But it’s very nice for kids to come up to me and say ‘you’re my role model’ and  that ‘you’re my favourite golfer’ and that’s great.

“In travelling to places like Haiti as I did earlier this year and then to Japan for the ‘Earthquake and Tsunami Appeal’, it puts everything into perspective.  I am very fortunate that a lot of people know me all over the world, and to have this status is an honour, a privilege and something I respect.

“Sometimes I might think that it would be nice to disappear to some place for a few weeks where no one knows me but that’s my style.”

McIlroy’s outlook is very much a continuing tribute to his parents, Rosie and Gerry, and while he’s already amassed vast wealth from simply hitting a golf ball off a tee, the feet of this 22-year old remain still firmly planted on the ground.

“It’s funny because sometimes I will sit back and feel a bit guilty because I don’t feel as though I have worked that hard for what I now possess in life,” he said.

“But my feet are planted firmly on the ground and I’m not at the level where I am flying all over the world in a private jet.

“I’ve sold the few cars I owned and I am very, very safe with the money I have in the bank. I have invested in a few properties but nothing too outrageous and I’ve invested money in my golf game by building my own practice facility back home.

“So what I have invested in is my career.

“But really there is not much I need because I am very happy with what I’ve got.   Also I owe my mum and dad so much for what they gave up for me when I was travelling all over the world to play before I had reached 18.”

McIlroy arrived in Hong Kong last night (MON) after a yet another profile-building endeavour when he joined Japanese heart-throb Ryo Ishikawa in a Yokohama charity match in aid of the Japan Earthquake and Tsunami appeal.

McIlroy could have easily opted out and spent the day relaxing in Hong Kong, and especially after the disappointment of he and Graeme McDowell losing the World Cup.

But then that’s not McIlroy’s manner!