WITH FOUR of the world’s top five and 11 of Europe’s Ryder Cup heroes in action, there is no shortage of star quality on show in the BMW Masters which begins at Lake Malaren, Shanghai today.

But there was one topic of conversation Rory McIlroy did not want to dwell on during the tournament build-up.

When asked about rumours of a forthcoming lucrative switch from Titleist to Nike the world number one played a straight bat.

“I’ll have my management company and everyone else on that side deal with endorsements and everything like that,” McIlroy said.

“I’m just here to concentrate on golf this week and I’ve got enough to think about trying to get that ball in the hole, so no further comment on that.”

As for whether he had the ambition to surpass Tiger Woods in terms of business performance the 23-year-old replied: “I’m just doing what I’m doing. I’m playing golf and enjoying my life. If that makes me more marketable, then that’s great, but I’m just doing what I’m doing and enjoying it.”

McIlroy has not only ascended to the top of the world rankings this season, but also won his second Major and topped the PGA Tour money list.

Last year Luke Donald achieved an unprecedented PGA and European Tour double, but McIlroy is on course to match him. He holds a lead of €433,000 over Justin Rose, but with a first prize this week in excess of €888,560 and four more weeks still to come the race is far from over.

“It’s very important,” he added. “That’s the one last big goal of the year. I’ll be giving it my all this week and trying to get another win.”

He plays the opening round with Rose and also Lee Westwood, who even at 12th on the money list could yet deny his former stablemate.

Meanwhile despite not adding to his Major tally, Woods, who won three times on the PGA Tour, still rates 2012 “a really good year”. Woods plays this week in the 48-man CIMB Classic at The Mines in Malaysia. “It’s a really good year, no doubt, but winning a major championship just makes it a great year,” he said.