Rory McIlroy says he is approaching next week’s US PGA Championship with “nothing but positive vibes” after ending his long wait for a fifth major.
The world number two completed the career Grand Slam with a thrilling play-off victory over Justin Rose in last month’s Masters.
In addition to joining Gene Sarazen, Ben Hogan, Jack Nicklaus, Gary Player and Tiger Woods as the men’s game’s only Grand Slam winners, McIlroy’s Augusta triumph marked his first major success since the 2014 US PGA Championship.
With the Slam achieved, McIlroy returns to major action at next week’s US PGA at Quail Hollow, where he has won four times on the PGA Tour.
“I’m obviously going to feel more comfortable and a lot less pressure [at the US PGA],” McIlroy said on the eve of the Truist Championship in Philadelphia, a tournament he won last year when it was staged at Quail Hollow.
“I’m also going back to a venue that I love, so there’s nothing but positive vibes going in there next week with what happened a few weeks ago and with my history there and how well I’ve played at Quail,” he said.
“It probably will feel a little bit different. I probably won’t be quite as on edge as I have been for the past few years when I’ve been at major championships.
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“I’ll probably be a bit better to be around for my family and I’ll be a little more relaxed. Overall it’ll be a good thing.”
McIlroy, who turned 36 on Sunday, skipped the RBC Heritage tournament following the Masters while he returned home to Northern Ireland to visit his parents.
Since then, McIlroy has returned to action alongside Shane Lowry for the defence of their Zurich Classic of New Orleans title, where they finished tied 12th.
Having opted against playing the CJ Cup Byron Nelson in Texas, where world number one Scottie Scheffler cantered to an eight-shot victory, McIlroy fulfilled more media obligations last week, appearing in the US on The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon and The Today Show.
“It’s not even the celebrating, it’s the obligations you have afterwards,” McIlroy said.
“I wanted to go home and see my folks after [the Masters] but having to play in New Orleans, it’s a different week and a fun week so I didn’t feel like I had to prepare all that much, I could lean on Shane when I needed to.
“But last week, I had Michael Bannon [his swing coach] in town, we practised for three days but then I was up in New York for three days doing a few bits and pieces.
“When I got back home and back into my real routine on Sunday/Monday and coming up here, it feels like that period is behind me and I’m looking forward to the next few months.”
