Rory McIlroy insists there may be extra he needs to realize in golf forward of his title defence at The Masters, a yr on from seeing his “dream come true” by finishing the profession Grand Slam.
McIlroy ended his 11-year look ahead to an elusive fifth main title with a ‘roller-coaster’ victory at Augusta Nationwide, the place he squandered a four-shot lead on his again 9 earlier than defeating Justin Rose in a play-off.
That win noticed McIlroy grow to be simply the sixth participant in historical past to win all 4 majors and full the profession Grand Slam, with the Northern Irishman now having the prospect to grow to be simply the fourth participant in historical past to win back-to-back editions of The Masters.
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Rory McIlroy accomplished his profession Grand Slam after beating Justin Rose in a play-off on the Masters
McIlroy joked “what we all going to talk about next year?” after his 2025 success, a victory he has beforehand described as “my Everest”, though stays motivated to construct on his Grand Slam glory.
When requested what the narrative is heading into his title defence, McIlroy mentioned: “I believe the story because it pertains to me is what do I do from now onwards? What motivates me? What will get me going? What do I nonetheless wish to obtain within the recreation? I believe that is the story.
“There’s nonetheless quite a bit that I wish to do. You assume each time you obtain one thing or have success that you’re going to be completely happy, however then the goalposts transfer, they usually simply preserve nudging slightly bit additional and additional out of attain.
“I think what I’ve realised is, if you can just really find enjoyment in the journey, that’s the big thing. I felt like the career Grand Slam was my destination, and I got there, and then I realised it wasn’t the destination.”
McIlroy described the previous 12 months as “amazing” and mentioned he has “tried to embrace and enjoy every part of life” as a Masters champion, with the world No 2 feeling completely different to how he did heading into previous editions of the event.
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Rory McIlroy and a few of golf’s most acquainted faces replicate on the second the place he achieved his lifelong dream of successful The Masters to finish the profession Grand Slam
“I think for the past 17 years I just could not wait for the tournament to start, and this year I wouldn’t care if the tournament never started!” McIlroy joked. “It’s completely different.
“I really feel a lot extra relaxed. I do know that I’ll be coming again right here for lots of years, going to benefit from the perks that the champions get right here. It does not make me any much less motivated to go on the market and play effectively and attempt to win the event, however yeah, simply extra relaxed about all of it.”
Rory McIlroy returns as defending champion at The Masters
He later added: “I think the nice thing now is instead of it being ‘come on, Rory, you know you can do this’, it’s [can he go] back to back. There’s a real positive connotation to it instead of ‘geez, Rory, we’ve been waiting a while. When are you going to get this done?’
“It is simply very completely different, and perhaps that is simply my notion of it, however it’s so good to stroll across the property or be out on the golf course and never have that hanging over me. It feels that it is a massive weight off my shoulders.”
‘Persistence was rewarded’ – McIlroy displays on Masters victory
McIlroy equalled the most important first-round deficit to win The Masters final yr, getting back from seven behind after the opening day, along with his persistence rewarded to finish his 11-year main drought.
“I didn’t overreact on Thursday when I made those two double bogeys,” McIlroy defined. “I did not overreact after I was solely one-under by way of 9 on Friday.
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Watch the highs and lows of Rory McIlroy’s dramatic last Masters spherical final April, the place he closed out a play-off win
“I think not overreacting and not pressing too hard, I stayed patient – or as patient as I could be – and I feel like that patience was rewarded. I played a 14-hole stretch in 10-under after that, and that was literally the stretch of golf that won me the golf tournament.
“I believe in years previous I might have went for a pin I should not have went at, missed within the mistaken spot, made one other bogey, after which rapidly the spherical begins to get away from you, particularly round right here. Final yr I did not let that occur to me and that was a giant distinction.”
McIlroy performs alongside Cameron Younger and Mason Howell over the primary two rounds
On whether or not The Masters presents the most effective probability for McIlroy so as to add to his main tally, McIlroy recommended: “I feel like I’ve got another, hopefully, 10 good shots of winning this.
“Not that I do not on the different majors, however I simply assume that the whole lot right here is a bit more predictable. I simply assume the extra expertise you have got round this golf course, the higher it’s.”
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