Rory McIlroy says he is more motivated than ever after back-to-back Masters wins
Masters champion Rory McIlroy insists he is more motivated than he has ever been after recording back-to-back wins at Augusta.
The Northern Irishman has not played since securing a second successive green jacket almost a month ago but returns to action at this week’s Truist Championship, one of the PGA Tour’s Signature Events, before heading to the US PGA on Monday for the year’s second major.
Having become only the fourth player to win back-to-back at Augusta, the world number two’s downtime was a lot more low-key than when he completed the career Grand Slam.
“Maybe not quite as hectic as last year,” said McIlroy, a four-time Truist champion at Quail Hollow in North Carolina.
“I didn’t do the media trip up to New York. It was nice to just get a little bit of downtime and chill.
“Erica (his wife) and I took a trip to New York, which was nice, and then I did the State Dinner at the White House (with President Donald Trump and King Charles) last Tuesday, which was an amazing evening.
“I gave myself a good 10 days to enjoy myself and then thought it was needed to get back on the range and start to practise and get ready for this stretch coming up.
“I’m excited for the road ahead. I’m excited for this week, I’m excited for Aronimink next week, Shinnecock (US Open), Birkdale (The Open).
“I feel like if anything I’m more motivated after what happened at Augusta this year than I’ve ever been.”
McIlroy’s Masters Champions Dinner this year attracted some criticism back home in Northern Ireland after he joked he did not offer a menu more in line with his heritage as “he wanted to enjoy it”.
But having spent a long time planning his first hosting of the event McIlroy, who turned 37 on Monday, is considering not giving it as much thought next year.
Appearing on the New Heights podcast hosted by NFL stars Travis and Jason Kelce, he said: “I went pretty fancy this year. It’s always on the Tuesday night so I could always do a Taco Tuesday, I don’t know, I haven’t thought about it too much.
“I’m not a big liquor guy but I was thinking of a certain cocktail with Bushmills (a Northern Irish whiskey) in it just to try a little bit of a nod back home so I might try to do something like that next year just to appease all the people I p***ed off.”
McIlroy told Travis Kelce, who is set to marry pop star Taylor Swift this year, that hosting the dinner was like a wedding day and the Kansas City tight end immediately asked for the Northern Irishman’s wine choice.
“Travis you’ll feel this this year, whenever you’re sitting at your wedding,” he added.
“It’s amazing having all these people in the same room from your childhood, it’s surreal.”