McIlroy Looks for Classic at Honda

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World number three Rory McIlroy believes he has made "good strides forward" before the Honda Classic in Florida, which starts on Thursday.

This season the Northern Irishman has come third in Abu Dhabi, sixth in Dubai and 20th in the Northern Trust Open.

"I feel like I am playing well, so it's going out there and doing it when it matters," he said.

He has been paired with holder Padraig Harrington and Open champion Zach Johnson for the first two rounds.

McIlroy, who has won four majors, won the tournament at PGA National in 2012 to become world number one for the first time.

But the following year he walked off the course, telling reporters he was in "a bad place mentally" and then issuing a statement citing severe toothache as the reason for withdrawing.

The 26-year-old lost in a play-off in 2014 and missed the cut last year.

"It's exciting to be back here," he said. "I've had some good performances here in the past and it's a bit of a home game for me this week, only living a couple of minutes down the road.

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World No Ready for BMW Championship

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Rory McIlroy admits he's enjoying not being the centre of attention in the battle with Jordan Spieth and Jason Day to be golf's world No 1.

McIlroy currently lies 17th in the FedExCup standings heading in to this week's BMW Championship, but is back as world No 1 ahead of Jordan Spieth despite neither being in action last week.

The pair are split by less than 0.03 points in the OWGR standings, as the duo tussle with Jason Day for golf's top spot.

The 26-year-old has only made two starts since rupturing ankle ligaments in July and while the recent focus at the top of the rankings has been around Spieth and Day, McIlroy admits he's enjoyed not being the sport's only talking point. 

"I feel like I've been flying under the radar a little bit for the last three months just because I've only played a couple of times," McIlroy told a pre-tournament press conference. "I feel like I'm sort of not being talked about as much, and that's not a bad thing.

"In that time period, Jason has done very, very well, Jordan has kept up his pretty good play, apart from the last couple of weeks, but that's golf, that happens. Rickie had a great week last week.

"It's nice to just go about your business. If you look at it over the last two years, I feel like I've played pretty much the best. I think I have seven wins in that time period.

"I don't know if anyone has more. If you look at it over a two-year period, but if you look at it over even the last 12 months or the last six months, then obviously no."

McIlroy features alongside Hideki Matsuyama and Brandt Snedeker for the opening two rounds in Illinois, with the world No 1 now looking to take some momentum in to next week's season-ending TOUR Championship.

"I feel like I'm ready," McIlroy added. "I'm really looking forward to playing two weeks in a row, so hopefully I can have a good week this week and then go to Atlanta.

The last three times I've played it's felt physically not rusty, but mentally just trying to get back into the rhythm of playing tournament golf and having positive thoughts all the time."

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Inspiration - Ben Hogan

“If you can’t outplay them, outwork them.”

Ben Hogan

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Woods Unlikely for Masters

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Tiger Woods has admitted he is a doubt for the Masters after announcing he has withdrawn from this week's Arnold Palmer Invitational in Orlando with a bad back.

The world No1 posted a statement on his website saying he told Palmer in person that he would not be able to defend the title he has won eight times, including the past two years.

"Unfortunately my back spasms and the pain haven't subsided," Woods said. "It's too early to know about the Masters and I will continue to be evaluated and work closely with my doctors. I feel badly that I won't be able to play in this great tournament this week."

"I personally called Arnold to tell him that, sadly, I won't be able to play in his tournament this year," Woods said. "I would like to express my regrets to the Orlando fans, the volunteers, the tournament staff and the sponsors for having to miss the event.

Woods has been plagued by back problems since last year but his condition has worsened. He failed to finish the Honda Classic at Palm Beach Gardens earlier this month, quitting after 13 holes in his final round.

Then he tweaked his back again at the WGC-Cadillac Championship in Miami a week later and is uncertain whether he will play at the Masters, starting at Augusta National on 10 April.

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