Rory McIlroy suggests he’s changing tactics on the final day as he looks to win back-to-back Masters titles

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Rory McIlroy is planning to try a different approach in the final round of this year’s Masters compared to the last.

McIlroy played some world-class golf last season, but he also made several key mistakes, which led to a nervy ending.

The Northern Irishman is hoping to avoid any similar blunders this time, as they will only give inspiration to his rivals.

However, fans can still expect an attacking approach from McIlroy in his final-round battle against Cameron Young.

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Rory McIlroy to play final round differently from last year’s Masters

McIlroy has suggested he will play more freely on Sunday than last year, given he is under less pressure to win a Green Jacket.

The final round is far from a free hit for the 36-year-old, but he can take more risks knowing that he’s already a champion.

“I’d like to think that I’ll play a little bit freer and I’ll play, like I’ve already got a green jacket, which I do,” he told reporters on Saturday night.

“Sometimes I may just have to remind myself of that, but I think as well that the stakes in terms of the pairing will be just a little bit easier. The atmosphere out there will be a little bit easier.

“Yeah, I’m not worried about that at all. I wish I were a few shots better off, but I’m comfortable. I played with Cam the first two days. Playing with him again tomorrow. I think it’s a comfortable group for both of us.”

McIlroy’s main objective is to become the fourth player in Masters history to retain his title.

This will undoubtedly be on his mind, but it will not present the same challenge as Young or Sam Burns chasing their first major.

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If McIlroy is to win his second Green Jacket this weekend, he will need to eliminate his mishits to the left from his game.

Players can deal with a one-way miss, but hitting it in both directions makes it almost impossible to maintain control.

“I think a couple of them were because of the lies that I had,” McIlroy explained. “The ball was above my feet quite a bit, but yeah, I was trying to hit a draw into the pin on the sixth hole, and I just overdid it.

“Then on 12, I had a bit of an awkward yardage. I was trying to hit, like, a three-quarter held wedge, and just body stopped and went left on me.

“But everything else, I think, for me it’s just about keeping my lower body moving. If I can just get my lower body moving through impact, then that should sort of fix it. But I am going to go and hit a few balls on the range to neutralize the ball flight a bit.”