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McIlroy 'working ass off' to cure swing issues

Rory McIlroy has struggled for form in 2013 © AP

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Rory McIlroy said on Wednesday that he has "worked his ass off" to try and fix the swing flaws that led him to withdraw from the Honda Classic last week.

McIlroy, 23, caused a storm after he walked off the course at PGA National - having become frustrated with the poor state of his play. The Northern Irishman subsequently blamed a sore wisdom tooth for his actions.

Speaking ahead of the WGC-Cadillac Championship in Miami, McIlroy apologised for his conduct last week - and revealed that he had spent the week working hard to try and solve the issues with his swing.

However, he suggested that he is yet to see his hard work come to fruition and is not expecting to contend strongly for victory this week.

"I've worked my ass off over the last four or five days to really try and get this right," McIlroy said. "It's still a work in progress - there's no quick fixes in golf.

"So I'm not putting any pressure on myself this week to perform. I just want to get my swing in the right position, and I know that when I do, the results will follow."

Once again, McIlroy denied that the winter switch to Nike equipment had caused his drop in form.

"I know that it's just purely the swing," he added. "The equipment is fantastic. I have no problems at all. When I make a good swing, the ball goes where I want it and the flight I want it, so I know that it's not that. It's just getting my swing on the right path."

McIlroy also moved to dismiss speculation that he was having trouble in his personal life, after comments made as he left the course last Friday led some to speculate that he was experiencing difficulties with his girlfriend, tennis professional Caroline Wozniacki.

He said: "Just because I have a bad day on the golf course and Caroline loses a match, it doesn't mean that we're breaking up - it's just sport.

"I'd rather keep my private life as private as possible, but everything on that front is great and I'm looking forward to seeing her next week when she gets to Miami."

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