Rory McIlroy has been warned that he now faces a 'new burden' as the golf star targets glory at the PGA Championship.
The 36-year-old will take to the course at Quail Hollow hoping to replicate the same form as last month, where he overcame Justin Rose in a dramatic play-off to win the Masters for the very first time.
McIlroy, since then, has expressed a belief that the shackles are off. He had, prior to the Masters, failed to win a major since 2014. Everything is different now.
Yet former Ryder Cup captain Padraig Harrington, speaking on the Sky Sports Golf podcast, believes that McIlroy faces a 'new burden' - with many hoping the Northern Irishman can continue his stunning form and make more history.
Rory McIlroy will be gunning for PGA Championship glory this weekend
GETTY
"It is interesting because a burden has been lifted, but now there's a new burden," he said.
"We're all looking at him going, 'well, can he win the Grand Slam this year? Can he kick on and will he win more majors? Will this be the release for him to get to six, seven, eight, nine, 10 majors?'
"Quail Hollow is his favourite course on the PGA Tour and he just loves it. It just sets up so well for him - a lot of doglegs from right to left and you've got to bomb it in the air a long way.
"This is the perfect golf course for him so he'll be bringing a lot of expectation."
JUST IN:BBC face calls to sack Gary Lineker immediately as post about Israel causes fury
After winning the Masters last month, McIlroy was emotional.
The 36-year-old sunk to his knees in jubliation as the sheer magnitude of his achievement started to sink in.
McIlroy also embraced his wife, Erica Stoll. The couple had appeared to be heading for divorce in 2024, only for the pair to reconcile and realise that the 'best way forward is together'. Their four-year-old daughter, Poppy McIlroy, was also present.
Harrington has admitted he was surprised to see the golfer so emotional. He continued: "I was amazed the emotions he was showing on the golf course in that last round.
READ MORE:Athlete spotting shaking head in disbelief after losing race to trans rival
Rory McIlroy was emotional after winning the Masters last month
REUTERS
"He played that round like he was a rookie, first time ever in contention.
"He was talking to his golf ball, he was putting his head in his hands and he was showing his emotions on the golf course much more than he would ever.
"It was incredible how big a deal it was for him. He hit golf shots like the rest of us, defensive shots that he wouldn't normally hit.
"It was staggering how normal and human he was in that last round.
LATEST SPORTS NEWS:
"Does he go back to being relaxed and swashbuckling and run away with it and just completely wipe the field with it, which he's capable of?
"There's a fair few players that can go and win the PGA Championship but there's not many that can run away with it."
McIlroy previously won the PGA Championship all the way back in 2014, when he was ranked No 1 in the world.
Aged just 25 at the time, the Northern Irishman managed to fend off competition from Phil Mickelson and Rickie Fowler to reign supreme.
Rory McIlroy previously won the PGA Championship back in 2014
GETTY
Should he go all the way again, then the golfer will win £2.5million in prize money.
That, certainly, will help pay for the new home that McIlroy and Erica are currently building in England.
He will, however, need to operate at the peak of his powers in order to secure victory. Xander Schauffele, the defending champion, will take to the course hoping to summon the magic that made him a champion 12 months ago - despite his inconsistent displays in 2025 so far.
