April 8 (UPI) -- Rory McIlroy said he is much more relaxed than he was before earning his first Masters victory last year, but remains motivated for a 2026 title defense.
McIlroy, who completed a career grand slam by winning a green jacket last April in Augusta, Ga., will tee off Thursday on his quest to become the fourth golfer in history to win consecutive Masters Tournaments.
"For the past 17 years, I just could not wait for the tournament to start," McIlroy told reporters during his pre-tournament news conference. "This year, I wouldn't care if the tournament never started. That's sort of the difference.
"It's completely different. I feel so much more relaxed. I know I am going to be coming back here for a lot of years. I'm going to enjoy the perks the champions get here. It doesn't make me any less motivated to try and win the tournament, but I'm just more relaxed about it all."
The first major of the PGA Tour season will run through Sunday and air on ESPN and CBS. Additional coverage will be available on Masters.com, Paramount+, Prime Video, CBS Sports Network, CBSSports.com and the CBS Sports app.
