Rory McIlroy says ‘defeating my own mind’ was key to Masters victory

Rory McIlroy believes “defeating my own mind” was key to winning the Masters and will take “nothing but positive vibes” into next week’s US PGA Championship.

McIlroy’s thrilling victory at Augusta National made him just the sixth player to complete a career grand slam and came on his 11th attempt to join Gene Sarazen, Ben Hogan, Gary Player, Jack Nicklaus and Tiger Woods in golf’s most exclusive club.

It was a victory which many observers had doubted would ever happen given McIlroy’s long major drought, especially after he had failed to convert a two-shot lead late in the final round of last year’s US Open at Pinehurst.

And the world number two almost squandered a five-shot lead with eight holes to play before beating Ryder Cup team-mate Justin Rose with a birdie on the first play-off hole.

“I always had hope,” McIlroy insisted ahead of his title defence in the Truist Championship.

“I wasn’t going to show up at Augusta and feel like I couldn’t win. The week that I feel like that I’ll go up there for the Champions Dinner and swan around in my green jacket, but I won’t be playing.

“Yeah, I always had hope. I always felt like I had the game. And I think, as everyone saw on that back nine on Sunday, it was about getting over… I don’t know what the right phrase is, but defeating my own mind was sort of the big thing for me and getting over that hurdle.

“Look, I’m just glad that it’s done. I don’t want to ever have to go back to that Sunday afternoon again. I’m glad that I finished the way I did and we can all move on with our lives.”

McIlroy enjoyed a deliberately low-key week of celebrations after the Masters, both in England – to see the house he is having built – and Northern Ireland, where he admitted he and mother Rosie