Rory McIlroy has had a slow start to the golf season and things don't appear to be speeding up anytime soon, as the world's number one golfer walked off the course at the Honda Classic on Friday, saying he was " in a bad place mentally.''
According to ESPN.com, McIlroy walked off the course while on his ninth hole of the day at the tournament, heading straight to his car and withdrawing from the Honda Classic after shooting a 7-over par on the day. He did not look to suffer an injury and McIlroy spoke to reporters in his way out about how he was feeling.
"I'm not in a great place mentally. I can't really say much, guys. I'm just in a bad place mentally," said McIlroy.
McIlroy has been in the midst of a highly-publicized equipment switch to Nike this season and he has replaced all 14 of his clubs in his golf bag with new equipment from the company. This season he has not seemed comfortable with the new clubs and has washed out early at each tournament he has been in.
McIlroy missed the cut at Abu Dhabi after opening with 75-75 rounds and then was eliminated in the first round of the WGC-Accenture Match Play Championship last week. At the Honda Classic he opened with an even-par 70 on Thursday and was struggling on Friday, hitting a triple bogey, a double bogey and two pars over his first eight holes before withdrawing from the tournament.
The world's number one ranked golfer was visibly frustrated and finished his day after hitting his approach shot into the water on the 18th hole. McIlroy took a drop on the shot, but not did not putt out of the hole and then told his caddie that they would be leaving the course. McIlroy then walked across the practice green and to his car, according to ESPN.com.
McIlroy has a house nearby the tournament in Jupiter and likely went there after deciding to withdraw from the tournament.
