Rory McIlroy is making his first start since missing the cut at The Masters this week as he competes at the Wells Fargo Championship in North Carolina, admitting it was nice to "reset" after withdrawing from the RBC Heritage to focus on his mental health
Wednesday 3 May 2023 15:11, UK
Rory McIlroy says he is now in a "better headspace" after electing to sit out the RBC Heritage last month in order to focus on his mental wellbeing.
The Northern Irishman endured an underwhelming week at The Masters as he missed the cut having arrived at Augusta National facing familiar pressure amid his search for an elusive fifth major crown.
His pursuit of the Grand Slam had been coupled with the effects of asserting himself as a leading voice in mapping out a sustainable future for golf following the emergence of the breakaway LIV Tour over the last year.
McIlroy subsequently deciding not to compete in South Carolina, a decision that cost him $3m due to being the second designated event he has missed this season.
"Obviously, after the disappointment of Augusta, and it's been a pretty taxing 12 months mentally, so it was nice to just try to disconnect and get away from it," McIlroy told the Golf Channel.
"It's nice to come back and feel refreshed and I think we're on a pretty busy run from here until the Playoffs so I'm excited to get going.
"I think I'm in a better headspace than I was, that run up to Augusta is always a stressful enough couple of weeks making sure everything is in the right order and your game is in good shape."
McIlroy has positioned himself at the forefront of PGA Tour member representation with regards to the ongoing and, at times, turbulent discussion over the impact of LIV.
The 33-year-old is back in action this week as he plays at the Wells Fargo Championship in his first appearance since Augusta.
"I think for me it was a nice reset because I still had to realise that there are three more majors this year, there is a ton left to play for," he continued.
"I needed to leave the last 12 months in the rear-view mirror and focus on what's ahead of me. I think the last three weeks has helped me gain that perspective and put me back on the right track."
McIlroy missed the cut by two shots at The Masters and admits he had allowed himself to ponder the possibility of winning all four majors on the back of a five-under-par back nine during his Wednesday practice, a mindset he would later deem something of a hindrance.
"It sucked. It sucked," he said of his overall display.
"It's not the performance I obviously thought I was going to put up. Nor was it the performance I wanted. Just incredibly disappointing. But I needed some time to regroup and focus on what's ahead.
"It's been a big 12 months and I don't know if I fully reflected on stuff. I never really got a chance to really think about the Open and St Andrews (where he was joint-leader after 54 holes) and everything that went on there."
McIlroy has alluded to a freedom of redirecting his sole focus to his performance on the course a number of times this year having willingly spearheaded discussion in the battle against LIV.
"I wasn't gassed because of the golf, I was gassed because of everything that we've had to deal with in the golf world over the past 12 months and being right in the middle of it and being in that decision-making process," McIlroy added.
"I've always thought I've had a good handle on the perspective of things and where golf fits within my life, but I think over the last 12 months I'd lost sight of that, lost sight of the fact that there's more to life than the golf world and this silly little squabble that's going on between tours.
"And I think once I disconnected from it a little bit, I could see things a little clearer and where everything fits. I guess that was a good reset."
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