Graeme McDowell has backed his compatriot Rory McIlroy to put last year's Masters misery firmly behind him.

McIlroy returns to Augusta National next week, a year on from his final-round capitulation that saw him blow his chances of donning the green jacket.

McDowell believes that the 22-year-old has learnt from that heartbreaking experience and has come back a better player.

The 32-year-old also said that Luke Donald regaining number one spot will relieve some of the pressure on his shoulders.

"There is no doubt that Rory will go back to Augusta feeling a little bit that he has a point to make after what happened," said the 2010 US Open champion. "But the thing is also that if Rory was going into the Masters as world number one he would be carrying all that extra ­expectation as well.

"The fact that Luke has got back to World No.1 is going to be a bonus for Rory as it will just take the ­pressure off him that tiny bit more."

McDowell has tipped McIlroy to challenge come Sunday afternoon in Georgia and believes that Augusta National suits his Ryder Cup teammates game.

"If Rory designed a golf course, I would imagine it would look a lot like Augusta because it suits his game," McDowell added. "And since what has happened at ­Augusta last year he has bounced back and had an incredible 12 months."

McIlroy bounced back from his meltdown at the Masters to be crowned the US Open champion just two months later.