Relaxed McIlroy finds new challenges after Masters win

Defending champion Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland high-fives spectators as he walks to the 10th tee at Augusta National during a practice round ahead of the 90th Masters (Hector Vivas)

(Hector Vivas/GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA/Getty Images via AFP)

Putting on a green jacket has lifted an incredible weight off the shoulders of Rory McIlroy as the relaxed reigning Masters champion strolls around Augusta National.

The 36-year-old from Northern Ireland completed a career Grand Slam by capturing the green jacket last year to end a 10-year major win drought and years of chasing a Masters crown.

"It's so nice to walk around property or be out on the golf course and just not have that hanging over me," McIlroy said Tuesday. "It feels that it's a big weight off my shoulders."

World number two McIlroy tries to join Tiger Woods, Jack Nicklaus and Nick Faldo as the only back-to-back winners of the Masters with a victory this week.

Turns out the end of his slam quest with a fifth career major title was only the beginning of a new story for McIlroy.

"I think the story as it relates to me is what do I do from now onwards? What motivates me? What gets me going? What do I still want to achieve in the game?" McIlroy said.

"There's still a lot that I want to do. 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.

"I think what I've realized 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 realized it wasn't the destination."

Of all the majors, McIlroy says his best chances to win more titles will come at Augusta National.

"I feel like I'm still young, but I'm very experienced. I've been doing this for a long time. This is my 18th start," McIlroy said.

"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."

This year, however, McIlroy has a new outlook. It's what helped him arrive on Saturday instead of Monday and relish in the perks of being a Masters winner.

"For the past 17 years I just could not wait for the tournament to start," McIlroy said. "And this year I wouldn't care if the tournament never started. That's sort of the difference."

• No less motivated -

Knowing he will have the chance to return as often as he likes has not dimmed motivation, McIlroy said, even with the pressure of winning the slam released.

"It's completely different. I feel so much more relaxed. I know I'm going to be coming back here for a lot of years, going to enjoy the perks that the champions get here," he said.

"It doesn't make me any less motivated to go out there and play well and try to win the tournament, just more relaxed about it all."

McIlroy is already pondering the places at Augusta National where he can attack the course better.

"You're always going to have to pick and choose your spots around here, where to be aggressive and where not to, but I definitely think there's places where I could be more aggressive off the tee," McIlroy said.

"There's a few tee shots out here where I'll just try to be a bit more aggressive, and then if you do hit a good tee shot, you turn a potentially tough hole into a birdie hole."

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