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 The young Northern Irishman ruled the golfing roost in 2012,
winning five titles, but a change of equipment and some off-course
legal distractions coincided with a slump in form that has seen him
slide to sixth in the rankings.
McIlroy ended a 12-month drought by landing last month's Australian
Open title and he said that victory had restored his belief going
into the new season.
"I feel that my game is really coming back, going down to Australia
and winning," the 24-year-old told the BBC.
"Beating (world number two) Adam Scott down there was really nice
and while it doesn't make up for the other weeks during the year, it
gives me some momentum for 2014.
"I won a major in 2011 and 2012 but not in 2013, so I'll try to make
up for that with two this year."
McIlroy, who announced his engagement to former world number one
tennis player Caroline Wozniacki earlier this week, said he was
learning to handle the pressure of competing for golf's top prizes.
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"I'm so much better down the stretch and so much better under
pressure than I used to be," he said.
"If I give myself a chance in these tournaments I know I'll have a
great opportunity to win. I feel I am very close, I'm confident with
my game and confident where it's going," added McIlroy who won the
U.S. Open in 2011 and the U.S. PGA Championship a year later.
"I didn't have the greatest of seasons in 2013 but I feel like I'll
definitely make up for that in 2014."
(Writing by Tony Jimenez; editing by Mitch Phillips)
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