The Northern Irishman finally completed a career grand slam, just the sixth player to do so, when he held his nerve to win a playoff against Justin Rose at Augusta last year.
Now a year on from the epic achievement, McIlroy admits he arrives at the iconic Magnolia Lane with a different energy.
“I feel so much more relaxed,” the 36-year-old told ESPN this week.
“It doesn’t make me any less motivated to go out there and play well and try to win the tournament, but yeah, just more relaxed about it all.
“I know that I can do it now. So that should make it a little easier for me to go out and play the golf I want to play.”
“I think when you’ve had the experiences that I’ve had around here, good and bad, I think that can stand to you. I feel like I’m still young, but I’m very experienced. This is my 18th start. I do feel like I’ve got another hopefully 10 good shots at this. Not that I don’t at the other majors, but I just think that everything here is a little more predictable. I just think the more experience you have around this golf course, the better it is.”
A career grand slam hasn’t tempered McIlroy’s competitiveness.
“You think every time you achieve something or have success that you’ll be happy, but then the goalposts move, and they just keep nudging a little bit further and further out of reach,” continued the five-time major winner.
“I think what I’ve realised is, if you can just really find enjoyment in the journey, that’s the big thing because honestly, I felt like the career grand slam was my destination, and I got there, and then I realised it wasn’t the destination. There’s still a lot I want to do.”
McIlroy will get his Masters defence underway when he tees off alongside Cameron Young and amateur Mason Howell on Thursday.
