McIlroy says in better place after breaking 2013 duck

Johannesburg: Rory McIlroy heads to his final event of the year at the Tiger Woods-hosted World Challenge this week saying he is in a better place mentally after winning his first tournament of 2013, according to reports.

According to Sport24, the Northern Irishman overhauled crowd favourite and reigning US Masters champion Adam Scott with a final round 66 to win the Australian Open on Sunday by a single shot with an 18-under-par tally. It was his first victory for more than 12 months and came at the expense of the popular Australian, who misjudged the wind and could only manage a bogey on the last hole at Royal Sydney, the report said. McIlroy said that he just felt in a better place mentally with some things off the course. He added that he never lost belief although he was frustrated at times because of not being able to win any tournament. The World Challenge is being played in California, featuring an elite 18-man field, the report added.