McIlroy confident of better 2018
Rory McIlroy said he is a better player than when he enjoyed major success, despite ending the year without a win after another disappointing showing at the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship.
McIlroy finished his last scheduled event of the year at St. Andrews with a level-par 72 to finish in a tie for 63rd position.
The world number six will now enjoy an extended winter break after his first winless season since 2008, but said he was confident 2018 would be a better year.
"I'm definitely a better player I feel than the player that won some of those tournaments and some of those majors," McIlroy said. "I feel like I'm a much better player now than I was in 2010 and 2012 when I was able to win a couple of majors.
"I see no reason why I can't better that in the next 10 years and that's why I feel like these three months are very important for me; to put some really good things in place and step away and just reassess everything and where I'm at and where I need to be."
Commenting on his final 18 holes of a frustrating season, McIlroy said: "I think my last round of 2017 sort of summed up all of 2017."
"It hasn't been the year I wanted on the golf course.
"I started the year with grabbed ambitions trying to add to my major tally and trying to win golf tournaments and get back up near the top of the World Rankings. I obviously have not been able to do that.
"I feel like I can still salvage something from the rest of the year. Even though I'm not playing [how I want to], I've given myself a lot of opportunities to put a lot of good foundations in place going forward. That's what I'm going to concentrate on from now until the end of the year."
Latest
-
News
On this day in 2008: Ryder Cup misery in Louisville for Nick Faldo’s Europe
Faldo was heavily criticised for his tactics in the closing singles.
-
Lucas Glover edges past Patrick Cantlay to claim back-to-back Tour wins
Glover, 43, ultimately claimed victory with a par on the 18th hole playoff after Cantlay found water off the tee.
-
Lilia Vu wins second major as Charley Hull comes up short despite stunning eagle
American Vu added the Women’s Open title to her Chevron Championship.
-
Lucas Glover holds onto lead in Memphis with Tommy Fleetwood two strokes behind
Glover said it was a scrappy day but he got ‘a lot out of’ what he had.
-
Charley Hull shares lead with Lilia Vu heading into final day of Women’s Open
The pair are nine under for the tournament.
-
On This Day in 2007 – Tiger Woods claims 13th major with victory in Oklahoma
The world number one successfully defended his US PGA Championship title.
-
Ally Ewing out to emulate Brian Harman with Open win
The pair share their southern roots, passion for hunting and college teams named the Bulldogs.
-
Ally Ewing storms clear during second round of AIG Women’s Open at Walton Heath
At 10 under par Ewing enjoyed a five-shot lead over compatriot Andrea Lee and Japan’s Minami Katsu.
-
Jordan Spieth leads by one after first round of FedEx St Jude Championship
England’s Tommy Fleetwood and Aaron Rai are the best of the British contingent, closing out Thursday on four under par.
-
Rory McIlroy delighted with Tiger Woods’ role on PGA Tour’s policy board
Woods, 47, has not played since withdrawing from April’s Masters and concedes his playing opportunities will be extremely limited going forward.