Rory McIlory was overwhelmed after winning The Masters in Augusta last month, collapsing to his knees on the 18th green as he joined only 5 other golfers as a Grand Slam legend - and he feels he's got an advantage over his rivals as a result as the PGA Championship looms.
The world No 2 has admitted that the whirlwind that followed has allowed him to play freely from now on.
"In terms of the intensity, I feel I have always played my best when I have played free, and what happened a few weeks ago will help me play free, more often, when it comes to the big moments and the pressure moments," he said.
"I think that is where it will give me a little bit of an advantage than the way I felt in those situations over the past few years."
Rory McIlroy is eyeing a second major win of the year
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The Grand Slam winner had already won two high-profile PGA Tour events in 2025 before teeing off on Friday, completing a trifecta of wins for the man from County Down.
"People are talking about the calendar grand slam when I have just won the first one in ten years," he continued.
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"I think the most important thing is that I feel really good about where my golf game is. I worked really hard in the off season last year and I think the fruits of my labour have paid off. Not just this year but last year, winning in Dubai.
"I think that gave me a lot of momentum going into 2025, and I’ve just continued to play a similar level of golf the whole way through the last six months, which is great to see."
Following all the fanfare after winning at Augusta, McIlory was happy to get back into the swing of things in Philadelphia last week to get in some preparation before the second major of the year:
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Rory McIlory finally won The Masters last month
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"The three weeks after Augusta was a bit of a whirlwind and I didn’t have a lot of opportunity or time to practice and do the things that I have been doing, but last week was an important week for me," he said.
"I felt, just to get back into my routine, back into my structure. To do the things that I have been doing all year to make sure I can keep this level of play up going forward.
"It was a good prep/practice week. I figured out a few things in my game I need to tweak or improve on a little bit, and I come in here, definitely feeling more comfortable with where I am, compared to a week ago in Philadelphia."
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The Briton, has developed somewhat of a love for Quali Hollow, recording four victories over the course of the last 15 years.
"It’s great to come back here, I have wonderful memories and it’s a course I have always been comfortable on," he explained.
Rory McIlory is only the sixth Grand Slam winner in history
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"There are certain courses that suit me a little better than others, there are some that stand out and Quail Hollow has been one of those for me over the course of my career."
McIlroy tees off to try and win two majors in a row at Quali Hollow on May 16.
