McIlroy is getting back to his best, warns Woods

Tiger Woods believes Rory McIlroy is slowly getting his golf game back on track and predicted that the former world number one would claim a breakthrough first victory of the year by the end of December.

McIlroy was on top of the world at the end of 2012, having won the orders of merit on both sides of the Atlantic, but he has had a turbulent season this year, on and off the course.

The Co Down man changed his clubs in January, a switch that was criticised by several pundits. He is also in the middle of a bitter court dispute with his former management team and, according to media reports, has split from girlfriend Caroline Wozniacki.