McIlroy: debut win in Dubai
Rory McIlroy has arrived for his Masters debut expecting to be inspired by the inspirational Augusta National venue.
The 19-year-old claimed his maiden European Tour title at the Dubai Desert Classic earlier this year, helping him to break into the world's top 20 and earning him a coveted Masters spot.
"You know what, it's just going to be a great week and one I'm really looking forward to, he said.
"It's a huge thrill to be here and it's been a dream of mine for a long time to be able to play in the Masters, and for that dream to finally come true is a pretty special feeling.
"It's a week that I'm going to enjoy and hopefully I'll be playing pretty well.
"Hopefully I can carry that good golf into this week, as well. But I'm here to enjoy myself and hopefully pick up some valuable experience.
"If it doesn't quite work out this week, I'll hopefully have plenty more to try to do well in.
World number one Tiger Woods has been the main inspiration for the Northern Irishman's rise to the top at such an early age, with the American's first of four Masters successes in 1997 holding a special place in McIlroy's memory.
He said: "The first one that I can remember is when Faldo beat Norman in '96 but 1997, I could probably tell you every shot that Tiger hit; '97 is probably the one that stands out most."
Yet while many of Woods' contemporaries have wilted under the pressure of trying to compete with the greatest player of their generation, McIlroy is not cowed.
Tiger era
He said: "I think the guys that are playing in Tiger's era, I've seen them do all of these things and play in the same tournaments as him, and maybe thought this guy is almost unbeatable; where the likes of myself and Danny and Ryo have seen him on TV.
"We can relate to him in a way, especially that first Masters. He was only 21 and you could sort of relate to someone that age. You think to yourself, 'Well, hopefully when I'm that age, I can do something like that'.
"It was definitely inspirational to see someone come out and make such a great start to their professional career. That's what I've always wanted to do. If I can play well enough this week, I might be able to emulate it."
McIlroy added he would love to face Woods in the final group on Sunday.
"It would be an occasion that you would relish," he said.
"That's what you've practised so hard for your whole life, to be able to play in the final group of a major with the best player in the world. So it would be a great experience.
Chance
"Obviously he makes players do things that they probably wouldn't do but you've got to go out and play golf and you've got to think if you shoot something in the mid to high 60s, you're going to have a chance and that's all you can do.
"All you can control is your golf ball, and if you can control that well enough, everything else will take care of itself."
Whether he finishes his first Masters in the final group or not, McIlroy said he was determined to enjoy the experience.
McIlroy is one of three teenagers, alongside New Zealand's Danny Lee and Ryo Ishikawa of Japan, in the field at Augusta National this week.
