McIlroy walks off after nine holes

Rory McIlroy's rough start to the year took a bad turn when he withdrew from the Honda Classic without finishing nine holes on Friday.

McIlroy already was 7-over for eight holes at PGA National and certain to miss another cut. He hit his second shot into the water on the par-5 18th and was done for the week. He told reporters as he walked to the parking lot that he was not in a good place mentally.

McIlroy, who signed a new equipment deal with Nike, began the year by missing the cut at Abu Dhabi. After a four-week break, he lost in the opening round of the Match Play Championship, and then made only two birdies in the 27 holes he played in the Honda Classic.