Rory McIlroy is feeling confortable with his putting and all round game. Picture by Fran Caffrey/www.golffile.ieThere might just be too many players ahead of Rory McIlroy to hope he can win the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational.

But whatever happens at Firestone Country Club’s South Course on Sunday, the 22-year old Ulsterman will head to the US PGA Championship in Atlanta next week believing his game - especially his putting - is simmering nicely.

The winners of last week’s big events around the world - Robert Garrigus, Adam Scott, Stuart Appleby, In-Kyung Kim and Ryo Ishikawa - used five different makes of driver.

By Andy Dean

I’m not old enough to remember Walter Hagen or Jimmy Demaret and tragically, Payne Stewart no longer struts the fairways in all his knickerbocker glory. Gone, too, is Ben Hogan - a man with a sense of style even sharper than his swing.

The new millennium has seen some new stars shine brightly. Yet there are some old glories out there who still turn heads. For what it’s worth, here’s my list of the top 5 dressers on tour. They may not be winning majors right now, but they are grand slam champions when it comes to picking out a wardrobe.

Rory McIlroy finished tied for third as Korean young gun Bae Sang-moon successfully defended the Kolon-Hana Bank Korea Open at Woo Jeung Hills GC near Seoul.

Bae recorded a one-stroke victory over compatriot Kim Dae-sub at Woo Jeung Hills Golf Club for his second big win of 2009.

“It just wasn’t to be today," said McIlroy, who closed with a one over par 72. "I really had a good chance to win but nothing happened for me on the back nine and Bae just played great. Well done to him."

Rory McIlroy hasn't got much to do in Korea in the evenings so he's been spending time on Twitter.

@Rorsmcilroy: Decent day at the office today Shot 68 in the top 10. playing with ryo ishikawa at 10.20 in the morning. Should be good fun

On Saturday he'll get to play with someone around is own age - Ryo Ishikawa - in the third round of the Kolon-Hana Bank Korea Open. McIlroy and Ishikawa are six off the lead after carding rounds of 68 and 69 respectively.

Rory McIlroy trails teen rival Ryo Ishikawa by a shot after a first round comeback in the Kolon Hana Bank Korea Open.

Rory's new Twitter image was produced by aindreas.com. Is he a new gay icon we wonder?The Holywood native, 20, matched New Zealand young gun Danny Lee when bounced back from three over after eight holes to card a level par 71 at Woo Jeong Hills Country Club near Seoul.

Twittering from Korea, McIlroy wrote: "3 over thru 8 but finished at even so a pretty good come back even tho i bogeyed the last! but only 4 behind so still in good shape!"

Ryo Ishikawa continues to outstrip Rory McIlroy - at least when it comes to firsts.

McIlroy and Lee arrive, jet-lagged, in KoreaWhile Rory McIlroy has the higher world ranking (he's 24th to Ryo's 47th) and finished in the money in all four majors this year, the 17-year old Bashful Prince has passed another milestone.

On Tuesday, he took over from McIlroy as the youngest player to make the top 50 in the Official World Golf Ranking and was later named along with Adam Scott as one of International captain Greg Norman's wildcards for the President's Cup matches with the United States.

Rory McIlroy will bid to prove he’s king of the young guns when he meets teen stars Ryo Ishikawa and Danny Lee in the $1m Kolon Hana Bank Korea Open.

RyoThe Ulster hotshot, 20, headed to Seoul to pick up a hefty appearance fee and his second tour win following his Dubai Desert Classic breakthrough in February.

But he will have his work cut out against Japan’s “Bashful Prince” Ishikawa , who romped to his fifth Japan Tour title on Sunday with a five-shot victory at the Fujisankei Classic.

Ishikawa, who turns 18 later this month, extended his lead at the top of the money list after claiming his third title of the year.

Korea-born Lee, 19, became the youngest winner of the US Amateur Championship last year, erasing Tiger Woods from the record books.

Teenage rookies Danny Lee and Ryo Ishikawa feel like nervous wrecks at the Masters.

But Rory McIlroy is still super cool and hoping to make a major impression.

America is only just waking up to the fact that Rory McIlroy is a fabulous player but the future of Ireland’s teenage prince will not be limited to the manicured fairways of the PGA Tour.