Rory McIlroy will allow himself some time to enjoy another Masters victory but has learned from last year’s experience that he still has work to do.
The Northern Irishman joined an exclusive club with Jack Nicklaus, Tiger Woods and Sir Nick Faldo in being the only players to successfully defend their title at Augusta National.
A year ago it brought him a long-awaited career grand slam but after returning to action following that win he accepted some of the competitive edge had worn off.
He spent the rest of the year fielding questions about whether his focus had shifted, even though he subsequently had three top-10 PGA Tour finishes, won the Irish Open, and finished third and second at the season-ending Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship and DP World Tour Championship.
But his performances in the other three majors were disappointing, with joint-seventh at the Open at Royal Portrush – what he would consider a home venue – his best result.
The 36-year-old does not intend to become a repeat offender after his one-stroke victory over world number one and two-time Masters champion Scottie Scheffler.
“I think (it will be) different. I said at the start of the week here I felt like the grand slam was the destination and I realised it wasn’t,” he said after securing his second green jacket.
“I just won my sixth major and I feel like I’m in a really good spot with my game and my body.
“I don’t want to put a number on it but I feel like this win is just – I don’t want to say a stop on the journey but it’s just a part of the journey.
“I still have things I want to achieve – but I still want to enjoy it as well.
“I’ve waited so long to win the Masters and all of a sudden I win two in a row so I still want to enjoy it.
“I’ve got a couple of weeks off before I go back to play competitive golf but I don’t think I’ll go through that lull of motivation or the sort of things that I was feeling last year post winning this tournament.”
There is a valid argument McIlroy has taken over the mantle as the greatest European golfer in the modern era.
McIlroy’s six majors leaves him one behind Jersey’s Harry Vardon – whose seven titles came between 1896 and 1914 – and level with Faldo, but his are spread across all four events whereas the Englishman’s was made up of three Opens and three Masters.
This win took McIlroy past the great Spaniard Seve Ballesteros, who won five, and next in his sights on the all-time list are Vardon, Gene Sarazen, Bobby Jones, Sam Snead and Arnold Palmer (all seven).
“I tie Nick (on six) so there’s obviously going to be that conversation and that debate is going to be hard,” he added.
“But it’s a cool conversation to be a part of.”
Asked what he had learned from his experiences over the last 12 months at Augusta he added: “Good things come to those who wait maybe. Just keep going.
“Keep your head down and keep it going. If you put the hours in and work on the right things, eventually it will come good for you.”
