Rory McIlroy has been told he's 'got to change something' after he suffered another disappointing week at The Players Championship.
The Northern Irishman fell away after a strong start in Florida to finish tied 19th and Jamie Spence believes it is time he and his team altered their approach.
McIlroy had a successful start to 2024, finishing second at the Dubai Invitational before winning the Dubai Desert Classic a week later.
However, his form on the course since has gone south, with his finish at The Players his best return in the last five events he has entered.
Rory McIlroy has been told he needs to make a change after The Players Championship
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McIlroy has maintained a positive mindset in recent interviews but Spence claims he can sense an underlying disappointment.
Spence said on the Sky Sports Golf podcast: "He's not with it at the moment. He is an up-and-down type player but his up and downs... I've just looked at his last five results - his best finish is tied-19th. That's not Rory.
"Because he won in the [Dubai Desert Classic], he then finished 66th at Pebble Beach, 24th at the Genesis, 21st at Cognizant.
"He said himself in the interview that 'it's not like I'm playing terrible and missing cuts'.
"But there was no power in his voice, there was no conviction in what he was saying, for me.
"He knows he's not on his game and he knows he's got some gremlins going on in his golf swing at the moment."
McIlroy's iron player has come under particular criticism in recent weeks.
English golfer Spence believes 'it is a sign of madness' if McIlroy and his team don't make a change.
He added: "I'm not his coach, he's been with the same team, they've been making the same mistakes.
"It's a sign of madness isn't it, expecting a different result from the same actions.
"You've got to change something, he's got to change something."
McIlroy will head to Augusta early next month as he looks to finally end his wait for a win at the Masters.
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Rory McIlroy finished tied-19th at The Players Championship in Florida
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The 34-year-old hasn't won a golf major in 10 years but Rob Lee believes he has the potential to turn his fortunes around quickly.
Lee says there is no pattern to McIlroy's form and therefore cannot predict when he will turn it on.
The pundit said: "He's such a good player but even within his streakiness, he can finish fifth, 10th, and keep those results going along. He can still do that.
"But he's always been up and down and you just wait for Rory to get back on the surfboard and back on the wave.
Rory McIlroy has struggled since winning the Dubai Desert Classic in January
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"When he does that, he's near unbeatable. So I don't worry about Rory.
"There's no pattern to it. There's no 'Oh I can see Rory winning from down the road'.
"It doesn't work like that with him. All of a sudden he's not on it, then he's on it. So for me, it's a switch with him."
