Rory McIlroy ‘back at top soon’ says Poulter

IAN Poulter believes Rory McIlroy needs to go his own way to rediscover the form which brought him two major titles by the age of 23.

McIlroy missed the cut in last week’s Open Championship at Muirfield, labelling his own play “brain dead” following an opening round of 79.

The 24-year-old has won two majors, topped last year’s money lists on both sides of the Atlantic, but has yet to win in 2013 since a controversial multi-million pound switch to Nike in January.

Asked if he had any advice for his Ryder Cup team-mate, Poulter said: “Stop reading the newspapers, stop listening to other people, go out there and do your stuff. There is a reason he was sought after by a new manufacturer and why they pay the big bucks – because he is that good. He’s just going to have to settle into the equipment, settle into being in a different environment now.”

Poulter added: “He knows how good he really is and the second he gets comfortable again you are going to see him winning golf tournaments.

“You don’t win two majors by the age of 23 and disappear. Rory is here for a long time and he is going to be back at the top very soon.”