A year after “realizing the dream” of completing a career Grand Slam, Rory McIlroy insists there is still more he wants to achieve in golf ahead of defending his title at the Masters.
McIlroy ended his 11-year wait for an elusive fifth major title with his “roller coaster” victory at Augusta National. After taking a four-stroke lead on the back nine, he defeated Justin Rose in a playoff.
With the win, McIlroy becomes the sixth player in history to win all four majors and complete a career Grand Slam, and the Northern Irishman has the chance to become the fourth player in history to win the Masters back-to-back.
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Rory McIlroy completes career grand slam by defeating Justin Rose in playoff at Masters
McIlroy joked, “What are we all going to talk about next year?” After his success in 2025, which he previously described as “my Everest”, he remains motivated to build on his Grand Slam glory.
Asked what the story is heading into his title defense, McIlroy said: “I think the story that pertains to me is what I’m going to do, what motivates me, what drives me, what I still want to accomplish in the game. I think that’s the story.”
“There’s still so much I want to do. I think every time I achieve something or have success, I feel happy, but the goalposts just move and get further and further out of reach.
“What I realized is that if you can really find fun in the journey, that’s what matters. I felt like the Grand Slam of my career was my destination. And then I got there, and then I realized it wasn’t the destination.”
McIlroy described the past 12 months as “amazing”, saying the Masters champion “has been trying to embrace and enjoy every part of life” and said the world No. 2 felt different going into past tournaments.
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Rory McIlroy and some of golf’s most recognizable faces look back at the moment he achieved his lifelong dream of winning the Masters and completing a lifetime Grand Slam.
“I think for the past 17 years I’ve been looking forward to the tournament starting. I don’t care if it doesn’t start this year!” McIlroy joked. “It’s completely different.
“I feel very relaxed. I’ve been coming back here for years and I know the champions are going to enjoy the perks they get here. It doesn’t make me any less motivated to go out there and play well and try to win a tournament, but I’m just more relaxed about everything.”
Rory McIlroy returns to Masters as defending champion
He later added: “The good thing now is that we can (go) back-to-back, as opposed to, ‘Hey, Rory, we know you can do this.’ Instead of, ‘Hey, Rory, we’ve been waiting for a while. When are you going to do this?’ It has a really positive connotation.”
“It’s completely different, and maybe it’s just my perception, but it’s so nice to not have that on my mind when I walk around the property or go out on the golf course. It feels like a huge weight has been lifted off my shoulders.”
‘Patience paid off’ McIlroy reflects on Masters victory
McIlroy tied for the biggest one-round lead at last year’s Masters, coming back from seven behind after the opening period to see his patience pay off and end an 11-year drought.
“I didn’t overreact when I hit the two double bogeys on Thursday,” McIlroy explained. “I didn’t overreact when I was 1 under through nine on Friday.
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Watch the ups and downs of Rory McIlroy’s dramatic Masters final round victory in the playoffs last April.
“I didn’t overreact, I didn’t push too hard, I just stayed patient, or as patient as I could. And I feel like that patience paid off. Then I played 14 holes at 10 under. That was literally the stretch of golf that won me the golf tournament.”
“In years past, I would have gone for a pin I shouldn’t have, missed in the wrong spot, and bogeyed again. Then all of a sudden, the rounds start to go away, especially around here. Last year, that didn’t happen, and that was the big difference.”
McIlroy will play alongside Cameron Young and Mason Howell in the first two rounds
As for whether the Masters is McIlroy’s best chance to improve his career majors, McIlroy suggested, “I feel like I have a chance to win 10 more times.”
“It’s not like it’s not in other majors, but I think everything is a little more predictable here. I think the more experience we have on this golf course, the better it will be.”
Who will win the Masters? Watch the opening match of this year’s Major live exclusively on Sky Sports. Live coverage of the first round will begin on Sky Sports Golf from 2pm on Thursday. Get and stream Sky Sports without a contract.
