Rory On Rory's Play: "I've got to stop being so angry"

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Derek Lawrenson with the short take on Rory McIlroy's frustrating Bay Hill week, which included six doubles but plenty of birdies too.

The defending champion at the WGC Dell Match Play isn't too upset about his game.

McIlroy conceded he was getting too down on himself during rounds. 'I've got to stop being so angry and not let the mistakes linger, because they're clearly leading to more mistakes,' he said.

Handicappers take note, McIlroy says the kind of golf he's playing will work well in the match play.

At least this fine round left him in good spirits for the defence of his WGC-Match Play Championship in Texas this week. 'I'm playing perfect golf for that event, given I can only lose a hole for each double bogey, and I'm making bags of birdies,' he commented wryly.

Rickie Visited The King To Explain His Scheduling Conflict

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After some early week conjecture about America's top players passing up a chance to play before Arnold Palmer, "word trickled" out according to ESPN.com's Bob Harig that Rickie Fowler visited Palmer to apologize for not entering the API.

The news was confirmed reluctantly, as the idea to drive to Orlando from West Palm Beach and have lunch with Palmer was not meant to generate any publicity, but to simply do what Fowler felt was the right thing and express his reasons for having to pass due to a scheduling conflict. It was an incredible gesture, and showed an impressive level of understanding.

Or he just missed eating at Bay Hill?

I suppose this and Bubba's gesture should be admired, but why not just play the tournament? Take a helicopter. That's what the Shark would have done.