Rory McIlroy has talked about how he finally won The Masters last year to become just the sixth career grand slam winner in golf thanks to a superb 15-hole stretch of golf at Augusta National.

The Holywood man is gearing up for his Green Jacket defence in three weeks’ time and has now revealed his menu for the Champions’ Dinner, which will include a dish made by his mum Rosie.

In a traditional virtual press conference hosted by the title holder on Wednesday, McIlroy spoke about how excited he is to be driving up Magnolia Lane for the first time knowing that he can now make the journey for as long as he wants as a Masters champion.

The world No 2 also reflected on how he finally got the monkey off his back last year after doing his best to throw it away at the par-5 13th in the final round before beating his Ryder Cup team-mate, Justin Rose, in a play-off as he birdied the first extra hole.

placeholder image — Rory McIlroy is looking forward to the defence of his Masters title at Augusta in three weeks' time. (Photo by Richard Heathcote/Getty Images)

“You know, I feel like I won The Masters in a 15-hole stretch,” he admitted after being asked about how he’d started the third round with six straight 3s, which equated to five under par at the Georgia venue.

“I shot 31 on the second nine on Friday, and I was five under through five holes on Saturday. So even a 14-hole stretch. I was ten under for a 14-hole stretch and my total score for the tournament was 11-under and got me into the playoff.

“Yeah, I do, I think a lot about the second nine on Friday and then the first few holes on Saturday because that was the stretch of golf that really won me the tournament.”

As he admitted at the time, McIlroy was helped by his trusty caddie, fellow Northern Irishman Harry Diamond, saying the right thing when he found himself in the sudden-death play-off on Sunday afternoon.

And he spoke in glowing terms once again about Diamond after being asked about some of the criticism the looper has taken over the years and what he felt the critics didn’t understand about what Diamond brings to his role.

“I think they don't understand that he provides a level of comfort on the golf course for me that probably no one else in the world could,” declared McIlroy, who admitted he felt “a little foggy” when he woke up as The Masters champion on the Monday after his sweet success.

“If I make a mistake or we make a mistake, I'm much less likely to get angry or get bothered by it because he's the one on the bag rather than someone else. It's much harder for me to get angry at myself or at him with him next to me than it would be with someone else.

“I think, as well, because Harry hates the spotlight, hates doing any sort of media, because he's not as outspoken. People don't hear from him. So he never has an opportunity to stand up for himself. So that's where I step in and I try to be that one that stands up for him because no one knows what he's doing or thinking or saying because he doesn't want anyone to know what he is doing or thinking or saying.

“That's one of the things that I really appreciate about him, as well. He's obviously a very loyal friend but at the same time he's doing it solely for the purpose for us to go out there and win major championships, and big tournaments, and that's enough for him.”

As for that menu, McIlroy has clearly gone to great detail in planning it, with one of four appetisers being dates stuffed with goats cheese wrapped in bacon. “Thanks to Rosie for that one,” he said, smiling, of that being his mum's dish.