Rory McIlroy admits he will feel more comfortable teeing it up in major championships going forward after finally completing the career grand slam at last month’s Masters.
McIlroy is the hot favourite heading into next week’s PGA Championship at Quail Hollow, a golf course he has won at four times, and with talk of a potential Rory slam starting to echo in golfing circles, he admits winning the Masters will take some of the pressure off going forward.
“I’m obviously going to feel more comfortable and a lot less pressure, and I’m also going back to a venue that I love,” McIlroy said when asked about the year’s second major.
“It’s nothing but positive vibes going in there next week with what happened a few weeks ago and then with my history there and how well I’ve played at Quail.
“Yeah, it probably will feel a little bit different. I probably won’t be quite as on edge as I have been for the last few years when I’ve been at major championships.
“I’ll probably be a little bit better to be around for my family and I’ll be a little more relaxed. I think overall it will be a good thing.”
McIlroy became just the sixth player to win the career grand slam with his victory at Augusta National last month.
It was a final round that had everything and a victory that many doubted would ever happen having entered an eleventh year without a major title.
McIlroy almost let slip a five shot lead on the back nine but he eventually shook off a bullish Justin Rose with a birdie on the first playoff hole and he admits he always believed he could get over the line one day.
“I always had hope,” McIlroy declared ahead of his title defence at the Truist Championship, the latest Signature Event on the PGA Tour where Shane Lowry is also competing.
“I wasn’t going to show up at Augusta and feel like I couldn’t win. The week that I feel like that I’ll go up there for the Champions Dinner and swan around in my green jacket, but I won’t be playing.
“Yeah, I always had hope. I always felt like I had the game. And I think, as everyone saw on that back nine on Sunday, it was about getting over… I don’t know what the right phrase is, but defeating my own mind was sort of the big thing for me and getting over that hurdle.
“Look, I’m just glad that it’s done. I don’t want to ever have to go back to that Sunday afternoon again. I’m glad that I finished the way I did and we can all move on with our lives.”
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