Rory McIlroy took another giant step in his career when EA Sports announced he would feature with Tiger Woods on the cover the world No 1’s new PGA Tour ‘11 video game.

A new matchplay format has been added this year and while McIlroy has never played in the Ryder Cup, the US and European flags are also prominent.

“They needed a European player because it’s a Ryder Cup [theme] this time,” McIlroy’s manager, Chubby Chandler, told Steve Elling of CBSSports.com

“It’s a very short-term deal,”’ Chandler said. “Because if he [McIlroy] becomes top man, everything changes. But he [McIlroy] was very happy.”

Chandler said that every player he has ever represented has wanted to be included in the Woods video game, regardless of age, albeit for various reasons.

“Darren Clarke always wanted to be in it because his kids played the game,” Chandler laughed. “Rory wants to be in it because he’s that age where everybody plays.”

It is the first time that Woods has shared top billing on the cover of his video game.

But it also makes perfect business sense to include a 20 year old golfer alongside the image of a 34-year old whose name has been dragged through the mud for the past three months.

McIlroy was a character in the 2010 version of the game but this time he has taken another step forward.

Woods himself tipped McIlroy to take over from him as world No 1 - during last year’s CA Championship at Doral.

“…hopefully, while I’m not around,” Woods said. 

Ironically, Woods is nowhere to be seen.