LONDON (AP) Newly crowned US Open champion Rory McIlroy is confident he can handle the pressure that comes with being considered the heir apparent to Tiger Woods.Comparisons were naturally made between McIlroy and Woods after the 22-year-old Northern Irishman swept to his first major victory in record-breaking style at Congressional on Sunday.His status will undoubtedly soar as a result but McIlroy said yesterday he will try to stay as grounded as possible to keep his career on an upward curve.“With success comes expectation and I know the expectation on me is going to be pretty high,” McIlroy said.“I expect big things from myself but as long as I can keep the commitment and dedication and put the hard work in, I don’t see why there’s any reason not to handle it OK.”McIlroy won the US Open by an eight-shot margin, reviving memories of Woods’ first Grand Slam title a 12-shot victory at the Masters in 1997 at the age of 21.Considering McIlroy had previously won just two tournaments in his professional career, it was a surprise how easily he blew the field apart over the four days.“Last week was fantastic, incredible,” he said. “The golf I played, I’d never played before in my life. I just hope I can keep it going.”McIlroy returned to Britain on Tuesday and was back 24 hours later at his hometown club in Holywood, near Belfast, the course where he was groomed to be a star.These are good times to be a golf fan in Northern Ireland 12 months ago, McIlroy’s compatriot Graeme McDowell came back from the US Open at Pebble Beach armed with a first major title.McIlroy said McDowell’s victory was inspirational.“I remember going up to Portrush and seeing Graeme when he came back home, and it’s nearly exactly a year later that I’m doing the same thing,” McIlroy said. “What Graeme did last year at Pebble Beach definitely inspired me to go on and believe that I can win major championships, to follow in his footsteps and bring the trophy back to Northern Ireland.“To think that no European had won it in 40 years before Graeme and then the two of us won it back to back. Growing up in tough (golf course) conditions, like the US Open usually is, probably helped us but I don’t think you can explain having two back-to-back US Open winners from a country of 1½ million (people).”McIlroy is taking the next three weeks off. His first event back is the British Open at Royal St. George’s in Sandwich, southeast England, starting on July 14.Meanwhile, Woods confirmed yesterday he will miss another tournament as he recovers from an injured left leg, saying he would not play in the AT&T National next week outside Philadelphia.“Doctor’s orders,” Woods posted on Twitter.He said he would be at Aronomink to support the tournament, which benefits the Tiger Woods Foundations. Woods said he was “feeling stronger,” but is still not 100 percent.The former nuimber one, who has slipped to number 17 in the world rankings, has not completed a tournament since he tied for fourth at the Masters. He said he hurt his left knee and Achilles hitting a shot on the 17th hole of the third round from an awkward stance in the pine straw.He tried to compete in The Players Championship, but withdrew after nine holes.Woods did not mention whether he planned to play the next major, the British Open. If he did, that would mean two months without any competition.He’s scheduled to be at Aronomink next week to sign the “We Salute Our Heroes” tribute wall in which fans can write personal messages to the US military. He is also expected to take part in the military opening ceremony next Wednesday.Woods won the AT&T National in 2009 when it was played at Congressional. It moved to Aronomink for two years because Congressional hosted the US Open last week.A year ago at Aronomink, he failed to break par in any of the four rounds the first time he had done that in a regular PGA Tour event in 11 years and tied for 46th.n European Ryder Cup captain Jose Maria Olazabal will be among the 288 players taking part in final qualifying next week for the British Open.The 45-year-old Spaniard finished third at the Open in 1992 and 2005 and is a two-time winner of the Masters. He will play 36 holes at the Littlestone course on Tuesday in a bid to claim one of the 12 qualification places.