Time is a great healer, they say.
Rory McIlroy hopes so, even if it is only three weeks since Augusta National inflicted yet more mental scarring.
The Northern Irishman – who missed the cut at the Masters and then skipped the RBC Heritage the following week – returns to tour duty in the Wells Fargo at Quail Hollow in Charlotte, North Carolina, with a renewed vigour after his mini-break.
“It sucked. It sucked,” admitted McIlroy of his poor play and missed cut at the Masters, revealing he didn’t touch a club for two weeks afterwards and, instead, prioritised some family time which included an anniversary trip to New York with his wife Erica.
McIlroy had gone into the Masters, and his latest attempt to complete the career Grand Slam, playing brilliantly in practice. Yet, he fell into the trap of believing it would be his week.
“I shouldn’t be thinking about if I …