McIlroy Embarks on a New Chapter at The Masters: Will History Repeat Itself?

As Rory McIlroy prepares for The Masters, he's adopting a unique approach, one that he's fully embraced after making history in the golfing world. Having experimented with various build-up scenarios during his previous 17 appearances at Augusta National, McIlroy finally found the winning formula to realize his childhood dream of completing the career Grand Slam. Many have wondered whether McIlroy's triumph would mark the end of his major motivation, especially 12 months after his roller-coaster playoff victory over Justin Rose. However, he's welcomed every aspect of his title defense, arriving earlier than ever to support multiple events and prepare for another push for major glory. "My preparation has been a mix of business and pleasure," McIlroy said on Wednesday. "I've done a lot of work at home and made trips here to get familiar with the course again. It's been a different lead-in, but one I've enjoyed immensely. I just want to keep enjoying my week and focus on playing good golf." McIlroy previously questioned whether he'd ever win The Masters, but now that he's achieved that goal, he's savoring the opportunity to spend time with golf's all-time greats, including hosting the Champions Dinner. The Masters begins, and McIlroy is aware of the fresh opportunities ahead to create further history. A successful title defense would see him match Sir Nick Faldo's major tally and become the fourth player to win back-to-back editions of The Masters. "I feel like I've got another 10 good shots at this tournament," McIlroy claimed. "I think the more experience you have around this golf course, the better it is." Faldo believes McIlroy must reset for his title defense, treating it as a new goal and project. McIlroy has been handed an early-late start for the first two days alongside Cameron Young and Mason Howell, and he's looking to bounce back from a title defense this season. Former Ryder Cup captain Paul McGinley thinks McIlroy isn't primed to win, citing his injuries and big break coming into the tournament. However, Sky Sports' Butch Harmon thinks McIlroy comes in more relaxed, without the weight of winning the Grand Slam on his back. Ryder Cup captain Luke Donald sees McIlroy as someone who has fun and enjoys the game, which is when he's at his best. McIlroy's game suits the Augusta course, and Donald expects him to be up there and win a couple more majors. A relaxed McIlroy says he comes into this tournament with 'a big weight off his shoulders.' He can now enjoy the tournament with the Grand Slam burden behind him. Wall-to-wall coverage from the tournament begins on Thursday, with Featured Group action and regular updates from around the course available on Sky Sports Golf.