The Masters 2026: Rory McIlroy ready for new era as Grand Slam champion - what can we expect at Augusta National?
Rory McIlroy has a new outlook after admitting he had believed completing the career Grand Slam at Augusta last year was his "end destination"; watch the opening round of The Masters live on Thursday from 2pm on Sky Sports Golf
Thursday 9 April 2026 07:52, UK
Rory McIlroy’s preparation for The Masters has been unlike any other – a situation he has fully embraced since etching his name into the golfing history books.
McIlroy experimented with almost every possible build-up scenario imaginable during his previous 17 appearances at Augusta National, eventually finding the winning formula to fulfil his childhood dream of completing the career Grand Slam.
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Many have questioned whether McIlroy climbing his golfing Everest would be the end of his major motivation, 12 months on from a roller-coaster play-off success over Justin Rose ending his 11-year wait for the missing title required.
But he has welcomed every part of his title defence, arriving earlier than ever - in his Green Jacket - to support multiple events ahead of hosting the Champions Dinner and then preparing for another push for major glory.
"It has been a little bit of a mix of business and pleasure, I would say," McIlroy said on Wednesday. "I've prepared. I tried to do a lot of my work in the weeks leading up here at home, then the trips that I made up here to prepare and get familiar with the course again.
"It [preparation] has been a very different lead-in to this tournament for me, but one I've enjoyed immensely. I'm just going to try to keep enjoying my week, but I know to do that I just have to go out there and play good golf - that's what I'm focused on."
McIlroy previously wondered whether it would ever be his time to win The Masters, meaning the chance to spend Tuesday evening hosting some of golf's all-time greats - having completed that task - was something he was always going to enjoy.
"It [being able to attend the Champions Dinner] is not lost on me," McIlroy insisted. "All of us in that room were the envy of the sports world. Everyone else would love to be in that room, and I certainly don't ever want to take it for granted.
"I tried to treat it as if it was the only time I would host a dinner. Hopefully it's not but, if it is, I tried to do it the right way."
Even McIlroy himself believed that the Grand Slam was his end 'destination', having become just the sixth player in history - and first since Tiger Woods - to have all four major titles on his golfing CV, but he now enters his title defence with a different outlook.
"What motivates me? What gets me going? What do I still want to achieve in the game? I think that's the story," McIlroy said in his pre-tournament press conference, having asked after last year's success 'what are we all going to talk about next year?'.
"There's still a lot that I want to do. You think every time you achieve something or have success that you'll be happy, but then the goalposts move and they just keep nudging a little bit further and further out of reach.
"I think what I've realised is that if you can just really find enjoyment in the journey, that's the big thing. Honestly, I felt like the career Grand Slam was my destination. I got there and then I realised it wasn't the destination."
McIlroy is aware of the fresh opportunities ahead of him to create further history, as a successful title defence would see him match Sir Nick Faldo's all-time major tally and become just the fourth player ever to win back-to-back editions of The Masters.
"I do feel like I've got another hopefully 10 good shots at this [The Masters]," McIlroy claimed. "Not that I don't at the other majors, but I just think that everything here is a little more predictable. I just think the more experience you have around this golf course, the better it is."
A new challenge for McIlroy?
McIlroy has been handed an early-late start for the first two days alongside Players champion Cameron Young and US Amateur winner Mason Howell, having already struggled to contend during a title defence this season.
He withdrew mid-tournament from the Arnold Palmer Invitational last month due to a lower back issue and then failed to mount a challenge a week later, ending 13 strokes behind Young at the PGA Tour's flagship event.
"Look, he's McIlroy - you're never going to discount him, particularly around here [Augusta National], but I don't think he's primed to [win] and I don't fancy him as much as I did this time last year," former Ryder Cup captain Paul McGinley told Sky Sports.
"He's had injuries last month and he's had a big break coming in here. He's never had more than one week off going into winning those five majors, but this time he's had three weeks off and then you look at all the obligations he's had to do this week."
Sky Sports' Butch Harmon added: "I think he comes in here a little more relaxed. He doesn't have the weight on his back that he has to win the Grand Slam.
"I've talked to him a lot on the range this week and he's very relaxed, he's feels very good about his game. I'm not going to say he's going to go out and win, but it wouldn't surprise me if he did."
Ryder Cup captain Luke Donald added: "I always see Rory as someone that is very childlike. He likes to just go out there and has fun and that's when he's at his best.
"Rory at Augusta - his game, his profile, how he plays, how good he is off the tee, his iron play - you know it just suits this course anyway. I'm sure he'll be up there. What he's done in the game is incredible but I would expect for him to go on and win a couple more majors now."
A relaxed McIlroy said he comes into his latest major pursuit with 'a big weight off his shoulders'. He can now go out and enjoy this tournament - for the rest of his playing days - with that the Grand Slam burden behind him.
When is The Masters live on Sky Sports?
Wall-to-wall coverage from the tournament begins at 2pm on Thursday, with Featured Group action and regular updates from around the course available on Sky Sports Golf until the global broadcast window begins at 6pm.
The same timings will apply on Friday, before an earlier start kicks in for the weekend - with coverage starting at 4.30pm ahead of full coverage getting under way at 5pm and lasting until long after the final putt is holed.
The notorious Amen Corner stream will also be available, focusing on the famous three-hole stretch from the 11th, with that Featured Group offering also available on the Sky Sports+ channel.
A feed of the fourth, fifth and sixth holes will go live each day as soon as the opening group reach that part of the course and another stream covers the 15th and 16th holes, with Featured Groups also available on Sky Sports+.
Who will win The Masters? Watch the opening major of the year exclusively live on Sky Sports. Live coverage of the first round begins on Thursday from 2pm on Sky Sports Golf. Get Sky Sports or stream with no contract.
