Rory McIlroy needed break from golf for ‘mental and emotional wellbeing’

Rory McIlroy’s disappointing performance at the Masters left the Northern Irishman needing to take a break from the game for his “mental and emotional wellbeing”, but the world No 3 has said he is ready to the return to the Tour with renewed focus for the year’s remaining majors.

McIlroy was looking to become the sixth player to complete a career grand slam at Augusta, but missed the cut by two shots. He then withdrew from the RBC Heritage at Hilton Head Island in South Carolina, a decision which cost him $3m and drew plenty of criticism from his fellow professionals.

McIlroy told the Golf Channel he needed the time away from golf. “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,” he said. “But it’s nice to come back and feel refreshed and I think we’re on a pretty busy run here from now until after the play-offs so I’m excited to get going.

“I think it was a combination of a few things, and just after the disappointment of Augusta and how I played there, it was just more for my mental and emotional wellbeing I just needed to be at home for those few weeks but, as I said, looking forward to getting back this week,” added the 33-year-old, who will return at this week’s Wells Fargo Championship at Quail Hollow in North Carolina, a venue where he’s won three times.

Withdrawing at Hilton Head meant he had missed his second “designated event” of the year on the PGA Tour. “We certainly have our minimums, we signed up for this designated-event series this year,” McIlroy said. “I knew the consequences that could come with missing one of those. It was an easy decision, but I felt like, if that fine or whatever is to