Rory McIlroy will hope to finally have a happy ending at the Irish Open this weekend after a season of near-misses.
McIlroy's collapse from the lead of the US Open was the defining moment of the season, with the 35-year-old agonisingly missing out on a fifth Major in North Carolina.
He would then come similarly close to securing an Olympic medal at the second time of asking but, ultimately, came up short at Le Golf National in Paris.
McIlroy has also had off-course issues to contend with, during a year that saw him take some time off to recover during the summer.
Appearing on the first episode of the new season of The Late Late Show with Patrick Kielty on Friday, McIlroy explained why he had chosen to take some time off.
There's been a lot going on this year, golf-wise and personal-wise as well.
Sometimes life can get a lot, a bit too much. I had to take a bit of a break and get away from the game more than anything else. Going back to the talk of the merger, and LIV, and all that...I think golf and the business of golf had become all-consuming for me for the last couple of years.
I needed to take a little bit of time away to realise what was actually important to me - friends, family, enjoying myself, enjoy the fact that you were this little boy in Holywood and you've grown up to be whatever it is that I am.
I need to enjoy that.
The pre-recorded interview took place on the fairways of Royal County Down, currently in the midst of hosting the Irish Open.
READ HERE: Padraig Harrington Puts Forward Wacky Suggestion To LIV Ryder Cup Dilemma
READ HERE: Shane Lowry Celebrates In Style After Lucrative End To PGA Season
Host Patrick Kielty showed his guest a video of a nine-year-old McIlroy showing Kielty how to read a putt way back in 1998.
26 years later, the Late Late Show host challenged McIlroy to a putt-off, with a wicked twist for the two die-hard Manchester United fans - the loser would have to wear a Liverpool jersey.
It has been a tough few years for United fans, with their bitter rivals Liverpool enjoying a far better spell since the departure of Alex Ferguson as United boss in 2013.
(The section in question begins at the 8:32 mark in the above video)
McIlroy, visibly unhappy with the proposed forfeit, eventually accepted the proposition and joked: "In fairness, I'd probably rather be a Liverpool fan at the minute."
Kielty would impressively land his ball closer to the hole at Royal County Down, with McIlroy begrudgingly and uneasily putting on the shirt of Manchester United's arch-rivals.
Rory McIlroy might accept defeat in the putt-off if he can battle his way to a win at his home event this weekend.
Midway through Saturday's round, McIlroy shares the lead on six under par.
SEE ALSO: Dublin Sensation Dubbed 'Next Rory McIlroy' Shoots Flawless First Round At Irish Open
