Missing Links: How 'tumult from fruitless 2013 paved way for career year' for Rory McIlroy

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For Rory McIlroy, 2013 was his worst year, 2014 his best, yet they had something in common. "The distractions just kept on coming, via a big pile of legal bills, an emotionally charged relationship break-up or merely dodging the prying eyes of an increasingly fascinated public," Steve Elling writes from Dubai in this story in the National. "In twisted fashion, the tumult from a mostly fruitless 2013 paved the way for his career year this season…Practice makes perfect, he said. I've got used to it,' McIlroy said Tuesday."

Rory McIlroy at the DP World Tour Championship (Getty Images photo)

A year ago, Jarrod Lyle, leukemia survivor, made his tearful return to competitive golf at the Australian Masters. This year, keeping his composure isn't his goal. Winning is. "I now am a golfer again," he said in this story by the Australian Associated Press. "I want to be out playing golf, I want to be competitive and be winning golf tournaments like everyone else."

Adam Scott, Australia golf's leading man, returns to the Australian Masters this week, seeking to do what predecessor Greg Norman never did. "Defending champ Adam Scott has Shark jumping in mind as he looks to do something Greg Norman couldn't and win three straight Aussie Masters titles," Russell Gould of News Corp Australia writes in this story.

One of the LPGA's showcase events, the tournament previously known as the Kraft Nabisco Championship, has a new sponsor, All Nipoon Airways, and a new outlook, Larry Bohannan writes in this column in the Desert Sun: "There is the chance for a new energy to come to the tournament that will be known as the ANA Inspiration. Honestly, in the last few years, as Kraft made it awkwardly obvious that it would be leaving the tournament, the event was losing energy. And that loss of energy seemed to be picked up by the fans, who weren't coming to the tournament in the same numbers they had five or 10 years ago."

"Michelle Wie departed Pinehurst No. 2 in June with the U.S. Women's Open trophy in her hands and eyeing the potential for a monster season that seemed destined since she caught the attention of the golf world 13 years ago as a 12-year-old," Steve DiMeglio writes in USA Today. It was not to be, the result of injuries. Still, "the season has been so phenomenal for me," she said. "Even with all the injuries and whatnot I still would consider this season a win."

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