Poulter tells struggling McIlroy to go his own way

Ian Poulter believes Rory McIlroy needs to go his own way to rediscover the form which brought him two Major titles by the age of 23.

McIlroy missed the cut in last week’s British Open at Muirfield, labelling his own play “brain dead” following an opening round of 79. The 24-year-old won five times last year, including his second Major by eight shots in the USPGA Championship, to finish top of the money list on both sides of the Atlantic.

But he has yet to record a win in 2013 since a controversial multi-million euro switch to Nike in January, also damaging his reputation by walking off the course during his defence of the Honda Classic and bending a club out of shape during the final round of the US Open last month.