Rory McIlroy back in the U.S

Rory McIlroy back in the U.S

Rory McIlroy is back in the U.S. for his first tournament since his back-nine collapse at the Masters led golf fans around the world to join him in a collective cringe.McIlroy’s substantial talent was no match for his overwhelming uncertainty and anxiety as putts didn’t fall early on and his swing fell apart as he made the turn, still in McIlroy Was Unsure To Win Masters  contention.But McIlroy, just 21, chalks it up to a learning experience as he gears up for this week’s Wells Fargo Championship, where he is the defending champion at Quail Hollow Golf Club.

“First thing, I don’t think I was ready,” he said Tuesday in Charlotte, N.C. “That was the most important thing. I displayed a few weaknesses in my game that I need to work on.”McIlroy has begun to address the biggest hole in his game, and the game of many players - missing short putts under pressure.This week, McIlroy reportedly has worked with putting guru Dave Stockton Jr. to find some answers before he defends his title, and then embarks on a big stretch of events that will include the BMW PGA Championship on May 26-29 in England, the Memorial and the U.S. Open. (McIlroy is skipping next week’s Players Championship.)A year ago at Quail Hollow, McIlroy manhandled a difficult golf course on the weekend, going 66-62 to win by four shots against one of the strongest fields on the season.On Sunday, he finished with six consecutive 3s, closing birdie-par-birdie on the course’s “Green Mile” - the toughest three-hole stretch on Tour in 2010, based on season-ending hole rankings.It capped McIlroy’s first PGA Tour victory and place him among the game’s elite, at just 20. McIlroy played his second shot on the par-4 10th so far left of the fairway he was between a couple of cabins on his way to a triple bogey. He followed with a three-putt and a four-putt, and then yanked another drive that left him resting his forehead in his arm on the end of his driver.But McIlroy said he’s recovered from his disappointment - and there’s little reason to doubt one of the most talented and refreshingly honest players in the game.