McIlroy Embarks on a New Era at The Masters: Can He Create More History?

Rory McIlroy's preparations for The Masters have been distinctly different this time around, embracing a fresh approach after making history in the golfing world. Having experimented with various build-up scenarios in his 17 previous appearances at Augusta National, McIlroy finally found the winning formula to achieve his childhood dream of completing the career Grand Slam. Now, as he begins his title defence, many wonder if climbing his golfing Everest would be the end of his major motivation. However, McIlroy has welcomed every part of his title defence, arriving earlier than ever to support multiple events ahead of hosting the Champions Dinner and preparing for another push for major glory. 'It's been a mix of business and pleasure,' McIlroy said. 'I've prepared, tried to do a lot of my work in the weeks leading up here at home, then the trips that I made up here to prepare and get familiar with the course again.' McIlroy previously wondered if it would ever be his time to win The Masters, and now, having completed that task, he's determined to enjoy his week while focusing on playing good golf. The chance to spend Tuesday evening hosting some of golf's all-time greats at the Champions Dinner was something he was always going to cherish. 'It's not lost on me,' McIlroy insisted. 'All of us in that room were the envy of the sports world. Everyone else would love to be in that room, and I certainly don't ever want to take it for granted.' Even McIlroy himself believed that the Grand Slam was his end 'destination', but now he enters his title defence with a different outlook. 'What motivates me? What gets me going? What do I still want to achieve in the game? I think that's the story,' 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.' McIlroy is aware of the fresh opportunities ahead of him to create further history, as a successful title defence would see him match Sir Nick Faldo's all-time major tally and become just the fourth player ever to win back-to-back editions of The Masters. 'I do feel like I've got another hopefully 10 good shots at this,' McIlroy claimed. Faldo himself believes McIlroy has to completely reset for the defence of his title. 'You can't roll off a log and do that. He won on such emotion last year it's going to be starting again,' Faldo said. McIlroy has been handed an early-late start for the first two days alongside Players champion Cameron Young and US Amateur winner Mason Howell. He withdrew mid-tournament from the Arnold Palmer Invitational last month due to a lower back issue and then failed to mount a challenge a week later, ending 13 strokes behind Young at the PGA Tour's flagship event. Former Ryder Cup captain Paul McGinley told Sky Sports, 'He's had injuries last month and he's had a big break coming in here. He's never had more than one week off going into winning those five majors, but this time he's had three weeks off and then you look at all the obligations he's had to do this week.' Sky Sports' Butch Harmon added, 'I think he comes in here a little more relaxed. He doesn't have the weight on his back that he has to win the Grand Slam.' Ryder Cup captain Luke Donald said, 'I always see Rory as someone that is very childlike. He likes to just go out there and has fun and that's when he's at his best.' A relaxed McIlroy said he comes into his latest major pursuit with 'a big weight off his shoulders'. He can now go out and enjoy this tournament - for the rest of his playing days - with that the Grand Slam burden behind him. Wall-to-wall coverage from the tournament begins at 2pm on Thursday, with Featured Group action and regular updates from around the course available on Sky Sports Golf until the global broadcast window begins at 6pm.