Former world number one Rory McIlroy believes that many figures within sport are affected by the pressure it brings.
The Northern Irishman was speaking after England cricketer Jonathan Trott left the Ashes squad this week with a stress-related illness.
"It's sad to see something like that happen and it just shows what a mental toll sport can take on you sometimes," Golf International Magazine quotes McIlroy as saying.
"As sport becomes so big and there's so much pressure and so much on the line, it's becoming more and more common that these sorts of stress-related illnesses are happening and it just shows how much of a mental toll it takes on you sometimes."
McIlroy faced criticism over the course of the season for failing to keep up his form after switching to Nike clubs in a big-money sponsorship deal.
