Rory McIlroy: The only shot I would take back is drive on the tenth

However, after a 25-hour journey from Georgia to Malaysia on a plane with Masters champion Charl Schwartzel and the Green Jacket he so nearly won, the Northern Irishman arrived yesterday to find his clubs had not made the journey.

"It hasn't happened often. It's one of these things you can't help. Going through so many time zones and so many connecting flights, your bags are going to get lost sometimes," McIlroy said ahead of the Malaysia Open. "Hopefully they turn up tonight and I'll be ready to go tomorrow."

McIlroy, who blew a four-shot lead in the final round at Augusta, said he was keen just to get back in action at the Kuala Lumpur Golf and Country Club for the co-sanctioned European and Asian Tour event which starts today.

"I feel like I'm playing really well at the minute," said McIlroy. "It showed for the first three days of Augusta anyway that the game is there. Hopefully, instead of doing it for three days like last week I can do it for four days this week.

"I don't think I need to change anything - just be a little calmer and a little patient on Sunday and hopefully that will be enough."

The laid-back world No 9, sporting natty, black-rimmed, square glasses and training shoes, had plenty of time on the flight to think about what he might have done differently in his final-round of 80 at Augusta on Sunday.

"The only shot that I'd take back is that tee shot on ten. If I could start the round again on the tenth tee in that position I was in…" McIlroy pondered of the drive that hit a tree and ended up in front of some houses way left of the fairway.

"That tee shot on ten was the first bad drive I hit all week. Then, from there, making seven on ten, I just sort of lost my way a little in the middle of the round.

"These things can happen very easily. I'll know in the future how to deal with it if it ever happens again."

McIlroy did concede, though, that he would have to become "the boy in the bubble" if he finds himself in contention for major titles in the future.

"It is very hard to keep yourself in the present and not think about winning or putting on that green jacket or walking up the last with a two or three-shot lead," he continued.

"You need to keep that out of your mind. I did that for the most part. If I was giving advice I'd say don't read newspapers, don't look at the TV or anything like that.

"It's easy to say he's got a four-shot lead and if he keeps doing what he is doing he'll win, but it is a lot easier said than done.

My advice would be almost put yourself in a bubble and don't let outside factors influence anything, whether that be newspaper articles, TV or anything."

First-time major winner Schwartzel profited most from McIlroy's Masters meltdown, but the pair enjoyed an amicable long-haul flight together.

"It was fine," he smiled when asked if being in the presence of the Green Jacket was a cruel ending to his Masters misery. "I've known Charl a long time and I'm happy for him, genuinely. He played great on Sunday. To go out and shoot 66 on the final day of the Masters to win was a great performance."

Was the mop-haired Ulsterman not slightly tempted to slip on the Green Jacket as the South African slept on the plane? "No way. I wouldn't want to do that. The only way that Green Jacket is going over my shoulders is if I win it for myself."

There was some good news when he arrived in Kuala Lumpur, however, when he learned his beloved Manchester United had beaten Chelsea to reach the semi-finals of the Champions League. "When I landed this morning I saw they had gotten through and that's a big bonus, that will give me something to look forward to over the next couple of weeks."Despite being staged straight after the year's first major, the Malaysia Open has attracted a quality field which also features world No 1 Martin Kaymer, who arrived in Kuala Lumpur having missed the cut at Augusta National, and Open champion Louis Oosthuizen. "I was always going to come here," McIlroy added.

"At the start of the year I knew Martin would be playing and Charl and Louis. It's going to be a great field. I'm excited to get out playing again.

"The conditions will be a lot different. The humidity, the greens will be different than what I've putted on the last few weeks. They'll be grainy and a lot slower. The opposition this week is tough.

"I've got to get over the jet-lag, too, so there is a lot to deal with. I'm excited to get out there, though.

"Hopefully, that will take over. I've the enthusiasm for getting out there and that will be enough."