Focused McIlroy a man on a mission

Rory McIlroy will head back to Florida for two weeks of practice confident there is a successful season ahead, despite the Irishman’s frustrations at Augusta National last week.

A career-high finish in the Masters of tied eighth, secured with his best round of the week, a closing three-under-par 69 that was one of just five sub-70 rounds on Sunday, provided plenty of positives for McIlroy.

A flash of inspiration on the sixth green that helped fix a putting glitch was yet another positive to sustain his two weeks away from the competitive arena as he turns his attentions to the next major of the year, June’s US Open at Pinehurst.