Rory McIlroy played a practice round with world number two Dustin Johnson in Augusta on Monday2019 MastersDate: 11-14 April Location: Augusta NationalCoverage: View highlights of the first two days for live and uninterrupted coverage of the final rounds on BBC Two, with up to four live streams online. Live radio and text commentary of all four days on BBC Radio 5 Live, BBC Radio 5 Live Sports Extra, BBC Sport website and mobile app. All details
Four-time big winner Rory McIlroy maintains that he has the game to complete the Grand Slam career in Augusta as he approaches this week's Masters.
The 10 attempts of the Northern Irishman to land the Green Jacket are his 2011 meltdown, when a slot 80 saw that he lost a four-shot final lap lead.
For the first time since 2011, he played in the last group last year but finished six behind Patrick Reed.
"One of these years, I'm sure I'm going to put myself in position," McIlroy said.
"Whether it is this year or 10 years later, hopefully I will respond to it", added the world number three in an interview that will be fully shown in Wednesday Masters 2019 Preview on BBC Two at 23:15 BST.
In addition to hunting for the Grand Slam, McIlroy hopes his recent obvious improvement in greens will help him land a first major since the 2014 US PGA.
Victory this week would see McIlroy as the sixth player to win all four modern majors – the Masters, the US Open, The Open and the US PGA Championship – with Gene Sarazen, Ben Hogan, Gary Player , Jack Nicklaus and Tiger Woods who have achieved the achievement.
Despite his disappointment in 2011 and the closing two-over-par 74 with which he saw part of the fifth disappear 12 months ago, McIlroy says his five straight top 10 finishes at Augusta "proves that I am "The best Augusta finish is his fourth place in 2015, when he was sixth behind winner Jordan Spieth.
The impressive victory of the former number one at the Players Championship at Sawgrass in March – when he ended a 12-month winless stretch – should strengthen his morale for the first major of this year.
"I watched Augusta for four years, knowing that this is the only one, whether it is the Grand Slam or the only major I have not won," added the 29-year-old.
"I think I have handled it well. I did not win and I did not play my best last year in the final round, but I have had four top 10 & # 39; s in a row since I went there [chasing the Grand Slam].
"I don" I want to make predictions, but I'd like to think that if I go back to Augusta in the next 10 or 15 years, at least a quarter or a third of those times , I will give myself a nice good chance of winning. "
Rory McIlroy dropped out last year on the last day after missing a short eagle spit on the second
McIlroy denies that last year's disappointment when a missed short eagle on the second seemed to kill his momentum on the last day, left him with certain scars.
"To leave a shot with 15 holes to play, you think you are there with a real chance.
" I let a few shots escape at the end of the front nine and I never called myself into battle again.
"It was a disappointing day, but I would not say he was gone because enough tournaments have slipped and there are enough tournaments when I have used my position."
McIlroy holds full that he was actually "encouraged" by his 2018 Masters performance, which was followed later in the season by a share in second place in The Open, two recordings behind Francesco Molinari.
"I touched myself at The Last Group at Augusta again after seven years," McIlroy said.
"I finished second at The Open. I really had a good chance of winning at Carnoustie, but people don't remember that.
" The only thing I can do is the to take the positive sides of it and feel that I have taken a number of steps in the right direction. have banned myself in two majors. "
And McIlroy claims that he will treat this week's lead role" just like any other event. " to play, "he said.
" I have probably put too much pressure on myself in recent years to try to win. Masters.
"It's hard enough to win here every week on tour, so I'm just making it harder and harder to win the one I really want – so I'm not trying to think too much."
Masters Memories 2018: McIlroy & # 39; roaring & # 39; after amazing eagle chip