As Rory McIlroy prepares for this week's British Masters, the Co Down teenager conducted his first press conference this afternoon as a fully paid up member of the professional ranks.

While it has been well known for some time now, the 18-year-old from Holywood formally announced that he is giving up his amateur status after a glittering career and appeared relaxed and confident when explaining his decision.

As well as winning the Irish and European titles McIlroy starred in the British Open at Carnoustie in July, lying joint third after an opening 68, and only two weeks ago earned a Walker Cup cap at Royal County Down.

McIlroy already negotiated the first stage of the European Tour qualifying school last week but ten more rounds have still to be played if he is to earn his card for next season.

He can avoid the rest of the school if he earns around €200,000 through his invitations into not only this week, but also the Dunhill Links championship in Scotland in two weeks' time and possibly three more events after that.

That may be asking a lot remembering that nine years ago Justin Rose finished fourth in the Open and then missed his first 21 halfway cuts as a professional.

But McIlroy, with a string of sponsors behind him already, simply oozes confidence.

He prefers to recall the impact Tiger Woods and Sergio Garcia had straightaway - both won within two months of turning pro — and commented today after nine holes practising with mentor Darren Clarke: "I am not putting too much pressure on myself, but I would love to go out this week and play well.

"I think people have expectations of me and I have expectations of myself, so I hopefully I can play well and live up to the expectations. That's the way I'm looking at it. I'm hitting it well and I think this course suits me.

"It's nice to be mentioned in the same breath as Sergio and Tiger and if I can make a start like they did I will be very happy. I'm just going to try my hardest and hopefully the results will follow."

McIlroy's backers include a Dubai-based hotel and hospitality management company, investment and construction firms, the Lough Erne club in Fermanagh and golf company Titleist.

Scot Lloyd Saltman, McIlroy's Walker Cup team-mate, also plays his first European Tour event as a professional this week.