World number three Rory McIlroy has said that he is in a positive frame of mind heading into this week's WGC-Bridgestone Invitational.
The Northern Irishman, whose poor form continued with a missed cut at last month's Open Championship, is hoping that a return to Firestone can once again spark an upturn in form.
A tied fifth-placed finish in last year's event propelled him towards a second Major title - the PGA Championship - at Kiawah Island a week later, and once again the 24-year-old is searching for form in Akron, Ohio.
"I was sitting up here this time last year not feeling as if my game was in great shape," McIlroy told reporters. "I'm sitting up here this year a lot more positive and that's a great sign.
"It's a course I feel I can do well on and if something similar can happen to last year, that would set up for the last major of the season and a great end of the year.
"It's been up and down [since the same time last year]. I've had some great weeks and wins and had some very average ones as well. It's like everything, you are going to have ups and downs."
There will be no cut this week at Firestone.
