World number one Rory McIlroy has conceded that he made a poor decision in abandoning the Honda Classic during the second round.

McIlroy, who had dropped four shots on the day before he reached the ninth tee and found the water, shook hands with his playing partners and walked off the course on Friday.

He initially remarked to reporters that he was in a "bad place mentally" before later releasing a statement citing severe toothache for his withdrawal.

Whatever the true reason for his exit may have been, McIlroy admits he made a poor decision.

"It was a reactive decision," he told Sports Illustrated

"What I should have done is take my drop, chip it on, try to make a five and play my hardest on the back nine, even if I shot 85.

"What I did was not good for the tournament, not good for the kids and the fans who were out there watching me - it was not the right thing to do."

The Northern Irishman has endured a poor start to the year which has seen him miss the cut at his first tournament of the year in Abu Dhabi before being knocked out in the opening round of the WGC-Accenture Match Play.

Golf 365