Rory McIlroy believes that Tiger Woods has played his best golf and will find it difficult to return to the top of the sport.

Woods has found it hard to regain the form that has won him 14 Major championships since revelations about his private life surfaced in 2009, as well as suffering a string of injuries.

In that time, McIlroy has seen his career improve, with the Northern Irishman winning the 2011 US Open.

"We saw the best of Tiger in 2000 and 2001. I don't think golf can be played any better than that," said the 22-year-old.

"But [getting back to number one] will be difficult for him because the fields are so much deeper. It will be a tough ask for him to get back there."

McIlroy was speaking on the day it was announced that he had signed a sponsorship deal with European bank Santander.