Northern Ireland golf star Rory McIlroy revealed on Tuesday he had taken a break from the sport to focus on his "mental and emotional well-being" in the wake of his missed cut at the Masters last month.

McIlroy returns to the PGA Tour this week at the Wells Fargo Championship in North Carolina feeling refreshed following a three-week hiatus from the sport in the wake of his disappointing Augusta campaign.

The 33-year-old four-time major champion withdrew from the RBC Heritage tournament last month immediately after the Masters without giving an explanation.

On Tuesday McIlroy revealed he had skipped the tournament for his own wellbeing, adding that the turmoil that has rocked golf in the past year since the emergence of the breakaway LIV circuit had taken a toll.

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"I needed a break for me," McIlroy told NBC's Golf Channel.&nbsp;

"Obviously, after the disappointment of Augusta, it's been a pretty taxing 12 months mentally, so it was nice to just try to disconnect a little bit and get away from it."

McIlroy has emerged as one of the most trenchant critics of the Saudi Arabia-backed LIV Golf, which has lured several of his Ryder Cup team-mates from the PGA Tour with the offer of lucrative purses and no-cut fields.

McIlroy however said Tuesday he is focused on his future, starting with this week's tournament.

"It's nice to come back and feel refreshed and I think we're on a pretty busy run here from now until after the play-offs so I'm excited to get going," McIlroy said.

"I think it was a bit of a combination of a few things, and just after the disappointment of Augusta and how I played there, it was just more for my mental and emotional wellbeing I just needed to be at home for those few weeks but, as I said, looking forward to getting back this week."

McIlroy said his absence from the tour had left him in a "better headspace than I was."

"I think for me it was a nice reset because I still had to realize that there are three more majors this year, there is a ton left to play for," McIlroy said.&nbsp;

"I needed to leave the last 12 months in the rearview mirror and focus on what's ahead of me. I think the last three weeks has helped me gain that perspective and put me back on the right track."

McIlroy did not give interviews after his Masters exit, and has not been put on the official interview schedule for this week's event at Quail Hollow, where he has won three times before.

His decision to miss the RBC Heritage was the second designated PGA Tour event he has missed this season after skipping the Sentry Tournament of Champions in Hawaii in January.

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Northern Ireland golf star Rory McIlroy revealed on Tuesday he had taken a break from the sport to focus on his "mental and emotional well-being" in the wake of his missed cut at the Masters last month.

Northern Ireland golf star Rory McIlroy revealed on Tuesday he had taken a break from the sport to focus on his "mental and emotional well-being" in the wake of his missed cut at the Masters last month. McIlroy returns to the PGA Tour this week at the Wells Fargo Championship in North Carolina feeling refreshed following a three-week hiatus from the sport in the wake of his disappointing Augusta campaign. The 33-year-old four-time major champion withdrew from the RBC Heritage tournament last month immediately after the Masters without giving an explanation. On Tuesday McIlroy revealed he had skipped the tournament for his own wellbeing, adding that the turmoil that has rocked golf in the past year since the emergence of the breakaway LIV circuit had taken a toll. Also Read: Sixers' Joel Embiid named NBA Most Valuable Player "I needed a break for me," McIlroy told NBC's Golf Channel. "Obviously, after the disappointment of Augusta, it's been a pretty taxing 12 months mentally, so it was nice to just try to disconnect a little bit and get away from it." McIlroy has emerged as one of the most trenchant critics of the Saudi Arabia-backed LIV Golf, which has lured several of his Ryder Cup team-mates from the PGA Tour with the offer of lucrative purses and no-cut fields. McIlroy however said Tuesday he is focused on his future, starting with this week's tournament. "It's nice to come back and feel refreshed and I think we're on a pretty busy run here from now until after the play-offs so I'm excited to get going," McIlroy said. "I think it was a bit of a combination of a few things, and just after the disappointment of Augusta and how I played there, it was just more for my mental and emotional wellbeing I just needed to be at home for those few weeks but, as I said, looking forward to getting back this week." McIlroy said his absence from the tour had left him in a "better headspace than I was." "I think for me it was a nice reset because I still had to realize that there are three more majors this year, there is a ton left to play for," McIlroy said. "I needed to leave the last 12 months in the rearview mirror and focus on what's ahead of me. I think the last three weeks has helped me gain that perspective and put me back on the right track." McIlroy did not give interviews after his Masters exit, and has not been put on the official interview schedule for this week's event at Quail Hollow, where he has won three times before. His decision to miss the RBC Heritage was the second designated PGA Tour event he has missed this season after skipping the Sentry Tournament of Champions in Hawaii in January. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Golf: Rory McIlroy feeling 'fresh' after mental health break

Jason Day needed to get his feet wet at the final hole to salvage a four-under-par 67 and take a two-stroke lead after the third round of the Wells Fargo Championship in North Carolina on Saturday.

The Australian took off his shoes and socks and stood in a small creek to play a shot to the green at the 18th before coming through with a par putt to stand at 10-under 203, two strokes ahead of Nick Watney (66).

Tiger Woods, who has struggled with his putting this week, was nine strokes off the lead after a 68 while Rory McIlroy rebounded from his 76 on Friday by going 10 strokes lower to sit seven off the lead.

Day struggled to get going but four birdies in six holes on the back nine saw him break free of the pack.

"It was a bit of a struggle through eight holes," the former world number one told CBS television.

"Then a nice shot into the ninth hole for a tap-in birdie and a good drive down 10 kinds of really started getting things in the right direction."

Rookie Aaron Wise had tracked Day for most of the afternoon but bogeys on two of his last three holes dropped him into a tie for third with Peter Uihlein, who narrowly missed the course record with a nine-under 62, Bryson DeChambeau (66) and Englishman Paul Casey (69).

Phil Mickelson also took advantage of the softer greens to shoot a seven-under 64 and move into 10th at five-under 208.

Woods picked up six birdies to reach one-under 212 but finished the round on a sour note with a three-putt bogey on 18.

The former world number one had moved to four under with three consecutive birdies from the 13th.

“I was so close to shooting about seven, eight-under today,” he told reporters. “I still didn't have enough pace on a couple that I left on the lip.

"I'm close, I'm hitting the ball well enough to contend, to win this golf tournament, but I just haven't made putts.”

Uihlein had five consecutive birdies from the fifth, an eagle at 10 and added two more birdies at the 14th and 15th as he missed McIlroy's 2015 Quail Hollow record by one shot.

"The way the golf course was set up today it felt like you could get after it a bit," he said. "It played a little easier than it did the first two days."

McIlroy, at three-under 210, had four birdies in a row before also bogeying the last.

"I'm just not that comfortable with anything right now,” McIlroy told Golf Channel. "I'm trying really hard to hit it in the fairway and then trying really hard to get my irons in line. It's all just a little bit of a struggle."

Day struggled to get going but four birdies in six holes on the back nine saw him break free of the pack

Jason Day needed to get his feet wet at the final hole to salvage a four-under-par 67 and take a two-stroke lead after the third round of the Wells Fargo Championship in North Carolina on Saturday. The Australian took off his shoes and socks and stood in a small creek to play a shot to the green at the 18th before coming through with a par putt to stand at 10-under 203, two strokes ahead of Nick Watney (66). Tiger Woods, who has struggled with his putting this week, was nine strokes off the lead after a 68 while Rory McIlroy rebounded from his 76 on Friday by going 10 strokes lower to sit seven off the lead. Day struggled to get going but four birdies in six holes on the back nine saw him break free of the pack. "It was a bit of a struggle through eight holes," the former world number one told CBS television. "Then a nice shot into the ninth hole for a tap-in birdie and a good drive down 10 kinds of really started getting things in the right direction." Rookie Aaron Wise had tracked Day for most of the afternoon but bogeys on two of his last three holes dropped him into a tie for third with Peter Uihlein, who narrowly missed the course record with a nine-under 62, Bryson DeChambeau (66) and Englishman Paul Casey (69). Phil Mickelson also took advantage of the softer greens to shoot a seven-under 64 and move into 10th at five-under 208. Woods picked up six birdies to reach one-under 212 but finished the round on a sour note with a three-putt bogey on 18. The former world number one had moved to four under with three consecutive birdies from the 13th. “I was so close to shooting about seven, eight-under today,” he told reporters. “I still didn't have enough pace on a couple that I left on the lip. "I'm close, I'm hitting the ball well enough to contend, to win this golf tournament, but I just haven't made putts.” Uihlein had five consecutive birdies from the fifth, an eagle at 10 and added two more birdies at the 14th and 15th as he missed McIlroy's 2015 Quail Hollow record by one shot. "The way the golf course was set up today it felt like you could get after it a bit," he said. "It played a little easier than it did the first two days." McIlroy, at three-under 210, had four birdies in a row before also bogeying the last. "I'm just not that comfortable with anything right now,” McIlroy told Golf Channel. "I'm trying really hard to hit it in the fairway and then trying really hard to get my irons in line. It's all just a little bit of a struggle."

Leader Day gets feet wet at Wells Fargo

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Golf: Rory McIlroy feeling 'fresh' after mental health break

Leader Day gets feet wet at Wells Fargo