Rory: New clubs not to blame

Last updated: 18th January 2013

Rory McIlroy was adamant that his new Nike clubs were not the reason for his poor showing in Abu Dhabi this week.

The World No 1 missed the cut at the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship after consecutive rounds of three-over-par 75, just days after the announcement of his multi-million dollar switch to Nike.

McIlroy debuted his new gear at this week's tournament, but insisted the clubs weren't to blame.

"All aspects of my game were off," he told Sky Sports. "I didn't drive the ball well, my iron-play wasn't anywhere near the standard it usually is for me.

"I'm struggling with my swing a little bit, I feel like I'm spinning out of a lot and hitting it out of the heel quite a lot and I just need to put in a bit of work on the range.

"It's the first week out, I wouldn't look too much into that (the change of equipment), if anything it's more the Indian than the arrow at this point."

McIlroy did admit, however, that he was not happy with the driver he'd been using this week.

"I've got to work on a few things, I'm really happy with the irons and my ball and wedges, the putter's good on fast greens that I practice on," he said.

"I just need to find a driver I feel comfortable with because I didn't drive the ball at all well and I feel like that's normally a big advantage for me."

McIlroy also reverted to an old putter for Friday's second round, but said it was just a temporary switch.

"It was just for these greens this week," headded. "I felt like the greens were pretty slow out there and the Nike putter I used yesterday is a little lighter so it was just a weight issue more than anything else.

"I feel like the one I used today was a little heavier and I was able to get the ball to hole, but even when I got the ball to the hole it still didn't go in... so the change was to no avail!"