Rory McIlroy out to emulate Jack Nicklaus

WORLD No 1 Rory McIlroy may not be playing his best golf at the moment but he remains confident he can defend his Honda Classic title at Palm Beach Gardens this week.

The two-times major winner is looking to become the first player to win the event in consecutive years since the great Jack Nicklaus managed the feat in 1977 and 78 and McIlroy thinks the conditions will be set fair to help him on his way.

“Hopefully I’m the first one since Jack to do it this week,” he said. “This week always depends on the conditions. It can get quite windy here and the course can play firm and it can get tricky but it doesn’t look like its going to be that way this week.”

McIlroy also revealed he is still adjusting to his new Nike equipment but believes his game is suffering due to his swing.

“It’s still an adjustment period,” he said. “It is more about how I’m swinging the club. That’s the real concern. It’s a little bit mental, but it was more physical [with my swing].”

On the European Tour, six Scots – Marc Warren, David Drysdale, Peter Whiteford, Chris Doak, Scott Henry and Callum Macaulay – set out in today’s opening round of the Tshwane Open in Centurion, South Africa.