Two-time major winner Rory McIlroy insists he has learned lessons from a difficult year where he has failed to register a victory.
However, the Northern Irishman refused to comment on rumours about his private life which claim he has split from tennis player Caroline Wozniacki.
A poor run of form at the start of the season coincided with the confirmation of McIlroy’s multi-million pound switch to Nike and so far he has only had one top-five finish in 2013 – a year after topping the money list on both sides of the Atlantic.
There have also been other issues off the course and he has changed management company with a court case to follow as a result. The 24-year-old believes his disappointing form is golf-related though and he thinks it has all been part of a learning curve.
“I learned a lot this year,” he said ahead of his appearance at this week’s Korea Open.
“This is the first year that I struggled as a pro. It’s the first year I didn’t live up to my expectations. Coming off the back of such a good year 2012, it’s always tough to emulate that.”
McIlroy also denies his golf problems are a direct result of him changing equipment and asked about a split with his girlfriend McIlroy said: “My private life is private.”