RORY MCILROY FEELS 2013 has been a “learning year” but after plummeting from first to sixth in the world, he will be happy to see the back of it.
McIlroy pocketed €200,000 for finishing fifth at the DP World Tour Championship in Dubai, 10 shots behind Race to Dubai winner Henrik Stenson.
It was a third top-10 finish in four tournaments but the 24-year-old is still without a win since November 2012.
“There’s been a lot of progression, a lot of positive signs,” McIlroy said on Sunday.
“I feel like I’m hitting enough good shots and making enough birdies. I’m just trying to eradicate some of those sloppy shots and those mistakes, and when I do that, then obviously expectations will be very high.”
Off the course McIlroy has had plenty of distractions including a high-profile legal rift with his former management and speculation about his relationship with girlfriend Caroline Wozniacki, who joined him in Dubai last week.
“Honestly I think I’ve learned a lot of things this year. It’s probably I need to sit down at the end of the year and come back to you.
It’s been a learning year. It’s been a very transitional year, a lot of stuff going on, new equipment, a few things off course that haven’t really helped either.But for the most part, I’m just really happy that my game is back where I want it to be and that’s all I really care about.
Wozniacki, far right, watches McIlroy on Sunday (Hassan Ammar/AP/Press Association Images)
“As a whole, obviously it’s been disappointing,” he added.
It has not been the season that I’ve wanted. But at least I’ve ended it on a positive note and started to play better towards the end of the season.
“I’m very happy with that and at least that gives me some momentum going into next year.
“But yeah, I’m happy that the European Tour season of 2013 is officially over.”
