Rory McIlroy says finally fulfilling his dream of completing the career Grand Slam will “free him up” to achieve further success in the sport.
The Northern Ireland golfer became one of an elite group of only six players to win all four men’s majors when he beat England’s Justin Rose in a play-off to claim his first Masters title at Augusta.
The 35-year-old’s triumph also ended an 11-year wait since his last major victory at the 2014 Open Championship. He won the US Open in 2011 and the US PGA Championship in 2012 and 2014 and has had several near-misses since.
“Getting the Masters, the career Grand Slam, the fifth major, getting all that out of the way. I think it will allow me to play with a lot more freedom,” McIlroy told BBC Sport NI’s Stephen Watson in Augusta.
“I really do think it’s going to free me up. It’s been a long time coming.”
McIlroy joins a list of golfing greats in winning all four of the sport’s premier tournaments.
He added: “I don’t think it will sink in for a while. There have only ever been five other players in history that have done it – Jack [Nicklaus], Tiger [Woods], Gary Player, Gene Sarazen, Ben Hogan, the creme de la creme of golf.
“To think that I’ve been able to put my name alongside theirs.
“I had a little reception with the members [at Augusta] and I said ‘I’m going to be going to that Champions’ Dinner every Tuesday night’ and they’re going to have to wheel me out of here until I’m 90 years old.”