( CNN ) -- Rory McIlroy says he is happy to go into next month 's Masters `` under the radar '' after losing his world No . 1 spot to Tiger Woods . McIlroy 's form slump since switching to Nike equipment this year in a reported $ 250 million deal had been the major talking point in the golf season so far , but Woods ' resurgence has eclipsed that . The 23-year-old congratulated the American 14-time major winner with a text message after Woods regained top spot with victory at the Arnold Palmer Invitational at Bay Hill , Florida on Sunday -- his third tournament win this year . McIlroy told reporters ahead of this week 's Houston Open that Woods texted back to tell his young Northern Irish rival to `` pull his finger out '' and raise his game . However , McIlroy suggested that maybe he can perform better as he chases his first Masters title in two weeks ' time if he is not favored to win at Augusta . `` I did n't think I could go into the Masters under the radar , '' McIlroy , a winner of two major championships , told the PGA Tour website . `` I can go in a little bit underneath him . `` So in a way it 's not a bad thing ( to lose the top ranking ) . '' McIlroy enhanced his growing reputation last season , becoming world No . 1 with victory at the PGA Tour 's Honda Classic at Palm Beach Gardens , Florida in March before winning a second major at Kiawah Island , host of the 2012 PGA Championship in August . One year later McIlroy is battling to regain that momentum . He apologized after walking out of the defense of his Honda Classic crown earlier this month after a disastrous start to the second round , and has he is yet to win a tournament in 2013 -- though he showed promising form in the final round of the subsequent WGC-Cadillac Championship event that Woods won . Last week , instead of entering the fray with Woods at Bay Hill , McIlroy spent the weekend on the sidelines watching his tennis star girlfriend Caroline Wozniacki compete in the WTA tournament in Miami . `` People left me alone , it was fine , '' McIlroy said . `` It 's nice to just go about my business and no-one cares , to not be the most talked about person in golf . `` We 're not machines , we 're humans . You 're going to have patches where you play great and have patches where you struggle a little bit . `` I guess you 've just got to take the rough and the smooth , and play and be patient and know that you 're working on the right things . '' McIlroy aims to get back in the swing -- and respond to the gauntlet thrown down by Woods at the Houston Open , where he could return to the No . 1 ranking with victory . `` I want to get back to getting into contention in tournaments and trying to win , '' he said . `` I think this is a good week to try and get into contention -- you have a chance with the Masters coming up . '' Woods is not playing this week , but they will reunite at Augusta when the American tees up for his tilt at a fifth Masters title -- and his first major win since 2008 . `` ( Tiger has ) been the man in golf for the last 15 years , and it 's great for golf to have him play well , '' McIlroy said . `` And , you , know , hopefully , I can try to keep up with him . ''
Rory McIlroy says losing his No . one spot to McIlroy could help him return to form . Woods regained the top ranking with his eighth career win at Palm Beach Gardens . Tiger Woods aims to play his way into form at the Houston Open this weekend . Victory would return the 23-year-old to top spot ahead of this weekend Masters .