RORY MCILROY has already described winning the Ryder Cup as putting the icing on the cake of an amazing season, but more cake could be on the cards in the Dunhill Links Championship.

As well as victory in the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth, McIlroy won the Open Championship, WGC-Bridgestone Invitational and US PGA Championship in consecutive appearances this summer.

The world number one then helped Europe win the Ryder Cup at Gleneagles and admitted the celebrations were so extensive that he has no idea how he ended up pictured topless, wearing a mini-kilt and bright red wig on Sunday evening.

However, the 25-year-old will be back in action straight away in the pro-am event staged over the Old Course at St Andrews, Carnoustie and Kingsbarns, and has extra motivation to win it for the first time.

"It's a tournament that I have played well at but never been able to win," said McIlroy, whose amateur partner is his father Gerry. "I finished third in 2007 (enough to gain his European Tour card in his second event as a professional), second in 2009 and second again in 2011.

"I've been close so it would be nice to win, especially as it's my dad's 55th birthday on Sunday. If we can make the cut in the team event and be able to walk around St Andrews on his birthday and me have a chance to win the tournament as well, it would be very special."

McIlroy and Justin Rose were the only two European players to play in all five sessions at Gleneagles last week, Rose finishing as top points scorer with four and McIlroy claiming three with two halves and two wins.

The Northern Irishman's performance, particularly his demolition of Rickie Fowler in the singles, drew praise from 18-time major winner Jack Nicklaus, who felt McIlroy had grown into the role of world number one.

"I felt a difference," said McIlroy, who was also ranked number one at Medinah in 2012 but slipped down the rankings in 2013. "I felt it was time for me to step up and be one of the leaders of the team, especially after the season I've had and being world number one.

"I needed to go out there and set an example and I'm just happy I was able to do that on Sunday. Personally my record in the Ryder Cup is important to me. In three Ryder Cups I haven't been beaten in the singles, I would love to keep that record going throughout my career.

"At the age of 25, to have won four majors and three Ryder Cups nine years younger than anyone else (Tom Watson was 34 when he did it), it is something I am very proud of.

"Paul (McGinley) has been involved in six Ryder Cups and is going to retire unbeaten. I don't think I will be able to emulate that at the end of the career. I would love to, but I am sure it won't all go our way in the next 20 years."

McIlroy admits his season is starting to wind down, although he wants to turn his large lead over Sergio Garcia at the top of the Race to Dubai into an "unsurmountable" one as soon as possible.

As for that topless picture, he concedes "the timeline gets a bit fuzzy around midnight", but does remember falling victim to a prank from Keegan Bradley, who invited him to the US team room but then ensured the security guards would not let him in.

Alongside McIlroy in the photograph was team-mate Stephen Gallacher, who joked: "If I had a body like that, I wouldn't have a top on either. Hence having a jumper and a t-shirt on."

Gallacher, who lost both of his matches at Gleneagles, revealed he would be undertaking a fitness regime from now on in his determination to make the team for Hazeltine in 2016.

"I don't know how you can replicate the level of intensity or excitement, especially standing on the first tee playing against Phil Mickelson on Sunday was something that will live with me forever," added Gallacher, who lives just 35 miles from the course.

"I think the Ryder Cup is one of these things; you just cannot wait to get back in to play it again. I think going forward it's going to help my game as well. I learned so much from it that I can take on board.

"We are already putting plans in place to try to qualify for the next one. There's a few mistakes I made this year so I'm going to try to peak at better times.

"By the time I got to Firestone and the US PGA, I was absolutely running on empty."