Rory McIlroy has 'freeing feeling' going into his Masters defenceBy Carl Markham, Press AssociationRory McIlroy expects to feel “free” when he returns to Augusta for the defence of his Masters title and is putting no pressure on himself to win the green jacket again. “This is going to be the first time I drive down Magnolia Lane and it’s all going to be about enjoying my week, enjoying the perks that come along with being a Masters champion,” said the 36-year-old. “The thing is I know I get to go back to the Masters tournament for the rest of my life and that’s quite a freeing feeling. “I honestly think that I’ve done it once and it’s not as if I have to win it again to win the Grand Slam. “Obviously (that’s) what happened on 13 and on 14 and when I got to 15 again I needed to be aggressive.

Source: Irish Independent March 18, 2026 18:47 UTC