Rory McIlroy defends game and responds to Trump criticism

Rory McIlroy came out swinging in his first media conference after six weeks with US President Donald Trump taking a low blow that will have hurt as much as any stress fracture.

The Holywood star, 27, returns to action in the $9.75 million WGC-Mexico Championship after being out for 44 days with a hairline rib fracture.

And while he has only played two events in the 17 weeks that have passed since last November’s DP World Tour Championship, he sounded far from nervous about his return and insisted he does not feel that he is playing catch up with his rivals with the Masters just five weeks away.