"The last four weeks have been the same, " McIlroy told the official PGA Tour website.
The victory propelled McIlroy to the No. 1 spot in the Official World Golf Rankings.
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"I always thought the majority of the players here could handle it, " McIlroy said.
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Meanwhile, Holywood schoolboy Rory McIlroy will be the youngest player in the two million euro event.
Donald could finish as low as fourth and take back the title, depending on McIlroy's finish.
The Wells Fargo Championship gets underway Thursday, with McIlroy teeing off in the afternoon.
McIlroy had gone five months without winning, long enough to lose his No. 1 ranking.
McIlroy is looking for a little momentum to push him in the right direction.
"I'm a little disappointed, but at the same time, Brandt really deserves to win, " said McIlroy.
McDowell ended the dream run of Shane Lowry, who had beaten his fellow Northern Irishman McIlroy.
While his shotmaking has been erratic at times, McIlroy's long game is in fine shape.
McIlroy tied for 45th at last week's Houston Open, where Horschel was joint second behind D.
"I always think when I'm playing bad that it's further away than it is, " McIlroy added.
Even without the three-putts it wouldn't have been enough to keep up with McIlroy.
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Woods grabbed 53% of the vote with Rory McIlroy getting 15% and Phil Mickelson 7%.
Not everyone feels comfortable in that position, Norman told me this week, but McIlroy does.
McDowell was paired with another hot property from Northern Ireland, Rory McIlroy, during practice.
World No.1 Rory McIlroy is currently tied for 30th on three-under par with England's Lee Westwood.
It is the first time the 23-year-old McIlroy has pulled out of a tournament.
"I realized pretty quickly that it wasn't the right thing to do, " McIlroy told reporters Wednesday.
After McIlroy's amazing display, there have now been 24 rounds of 63 in major championship history.
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Every Tour player I talked to at the Honda thought McIlroy's move was a no-brainer.
McIlroy made more greens in regulation in the recorded history of the statistic at the Open.
"I didn't make enough birdies in the end, " McIlroy told the PGA Tour's official website.
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Both Tiger Woods and world No. 1 Rory McIlroy failed to make the cut.
McIlroy ranks fifth at 16% sandwiched between Fred Couples (19%) and Tom Watson (15%).
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There were three times as many posts on social media about Woods as McIlroy during 2012.
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Westwood is currently fourth but could take over from third-placed Rory McIlroy this week.
At a stroke, the deal transforms McIlroy into one of the hottest commercial properties in sport.
However, McIlroy -- who played under Montgomerie -- has firm opinions about who should be captain.
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