McIlroy staying away from the gym

Cape Town - Rory McIlroy admits he has not hit the weights as hard this year, hoping to dodge critics of his hectic gym routine.

The Northern Irishman's bodily transformation from a wiry lad with the nickname Wee-Mac to a triangular-torsoed-power-hitter has been well documented on social media over the last two years.

This earned McIlroy some critics, given that he has not won a major since his embarking on his muscle-building journey. 

This year, perhaps aided by his rib injury, McIlroy admitted that he has curbed the habit.
 
"Honestly, I haven't lifted a weight all year, and it's tough for me to come out and sort of say I don't," the 28-year-old said at a press conference ahead of the Travelers Championship. 
 
"But I literally, the most I've lifted in the gym is 15 pounds this year because of my injury," 
 
"I'm nowhere near as strong as I used to be. I'm not. But I don't need to be. I feel like physically if I'm stable and I'm strong in the right areas, I'm okay...So at least I can't be criticized for that this year."

McIlroy features in a star-studded field at this week's Travelers Championship, that includes Jason Day, Jordan Spieth and US Open runner-up Brian Harmon.