I am a proud product of Irish golf and the Golfing Union of Ireland and am hugely honoured to have come from very rich Irish sporting roots... I am also a proud Ulsterman who grew up in Northern Ireland. That is my background and always will be.

How can I intimidate Tiger Woods? I mean, the guy’s got 75 or whatever PGA Tour wins, 14 majors. He’s been the biggest thing ever in our sport. How could some little 23-year-old from Northern Ireland with a few wins come up and intimidate him.

As long as I keep enjoying my golf, then hopefully I’ll be able to play well.

I’ve always said the players don’t build up rivalries themselves, people from the outside build up the rivalries. I just want to play good golf. I want to try and keep winning golf tournaments.

I used to not really like going to the gym when I was playing tournaments because I’d be sore and stiff. But the more you keep doing it, the less soreness you have. And you actually start to enjoy it.

I’ve had support from all sides, from people who call themselves Irish, from Northern Irish, to the whole of the UK, to people in America, and it would be terrible for me to segregate myself from one of those groups that support me so much.

My parent are very proud, but Dad ripped into me for throwing a club on the 11th. He’s happy with the way I played, but he always has to have something to moan about!

The flight I’m most excited about is the one that takes me back to Northern Ireland to visit family and friends.

If somebody asks me whether I’d rather sink the winning putt in the Ryder Cup or win a major, it’s the major every day. World championship or Ryder Cup? Win a world championship. At the end of the day you’re going to be remembered for what you achieve in an individual sport.

If I’m playing in the morning, I’ll get some carbs early: porridge with chopped banana. If I’m playing in the afternoon, I’ll start with less carbs and have some eggs and fruit for breakfast, then a light lunch about 90 minutes before I play, so I don’t feel sluggish or full.