Robert Allenby says he's struggling with personal issues and it's affecting his golf as his ranking slides.
Robert Allenby admits he's been lacking motivation at a time his golf career needs it the most.
With his world ranking slipping to 80th, the 40-year-old Australian is at the lowest point he's been since 2000 and despite making over $US26 million on the US PGA tour in his career he's in danger of slipping away from the top echelon.
Allenby frankly acknowledges he's struggling to deal with personal issues away from the golf course and his game has suffered.
"I've been feeling poor to be honest. I am working hard but I just haven't been motivated," Allenby said on Tuesday.
"I haven't been in a good place mentally and this game is very hard when that is the case.
"I am trying to push through it and be gentle on myself at the same time, which can be hard because I expect high standards of myself.
"Right now I'm not at peace with myself for personal reasons which I won't go into but I need to find a way to be happy on the golf course.
"I have been searching for something and hopefully I can find it this week."
Allenby is 83rd on the 2012 US tour money list heading into this week's prestigious Memorial tournament in Ohio, courtesy of his lone top-10 finish - a playoff loss in a secondary event in Mexico.
It is a far cry from his usual consistent results; averaging 5.3 top-10 finishes a year over the last 12 years, and it has him under threat to miss the top 125 at season's end, the magic mark for a tour card.
Fortunately he is running 19th on the all-time career money list, allowing him the chance to take a one-time exemption for next year if things get worse before they get better.
But despite his troubles the four-time US tour winner believes he will turn things around and not have to worry about special exemptions.
"It's a matter of persevering and getting through it," Allenby said.
"I am trying hard to stay positive and I know it just takes one good week to get things back.
"I have time on my side to turn things around and I know I can.
"I have been a little down emotionally but I'm ready to regroup and get back to where I was and I think I'm on the path there.
"I need to be patient and good stuff will happen. Who knows, maybe a good week here will be the catalyst I need."
Allenby lines up with 11 other Australians still trying to find the country's first win of the year.
Adam Scott, Jason Day, John Senden, Greg Chalmers, Aaron Baddeley, Stuart Appleby, Bryden Macpherson, Rod Pampling, Nick O'Hern, Marc Leishman and Geoff Ogilvy are in a strong field containing 20 of the top 30 ranked golfers playing, including world No.1 Luke Donald, No.2 Rory McIlroy and 14-time major champion Tiger Woods.
