Masters win will help McIlroy 'play with more freedom'

Rory McIlroy says yet fulfilling his dream of completing nan profession Grand Slam will "free him up" to execute further occurrence successful nan sport.

The Northern Ireland golfer became 1 of an elite group of only six players to triumph each 4 fields erstwhile he hit England's Justin Rose successful a play-off to declare his first Masters title astatine Augusta.

The 35-year-old's triumph besides ended an 11-year hold since his past awesome triumph astatine nan 2014 Open Championship. He won nan US Open connected 2011 and nan US PGA Championship successful 2012 and 2014.

"Getting nan Masters, nan profession expansive slam, nan 5th major, getting each that retired of nan way. I deliberation it will let maine to play pinch a batch much freedom," McIlroy told BBC Sport NI's Stephen Watson successful Augusta.

"I really do deliberation it's going to free maine up. It's been a agelong clip coming."

McIlroy joins a database of golfing greats successful winning each 4 of nan sport's premier tournaments.

"I don't deliberation it will descend successful for a while. There person only ever been 5 different players successful history that person done it - Jack [Nicklaus], Tiger [Woods], Gary Player, Gene Sarazen, Ben Hogan, nan creme de la creme of golf.

"To deliberation that I've been capable to put my sanction alongside theirs.

"I had a small reception pinch nan members [at Augusta] and I said 'I'm going to beryllium going to that Champions' Dinner each Tuesday nighttime and they're going to person to instrumentality maine retired of present until I'm 90 years old!"

McIlroy came retired connected apical aft a melodramatic last time which saw him regroup from missing a putt which would person secured triumph connected nan 18th to hit Rose successful a abrupt decease play-off.

"When I deed nan shot successful nan h2o connected 13 I had a look astatine nan committee and I saw I was tied for nan lead astatine that constituent and past I saw Justin Rose had conscionable made a birdie to spell to 11 [under].

"I thought, it's ok, I've still sewage 14 and15 which are possibly birdie holes but past I bogey 14 and abruptly my back's really against nan wall.

"I pulled retired a awesome changeable erstwhile I needed it connected 15 and from location I played immoderate really awesome play and had a chance successful regularisation to get nan occupation done and wasn't capable to return it. I deliberation from nan past spread successful regularisation to nan play-off spread it was for illustration a microcosm of nan full week, it was 1 bad spread followed by 1 awesome hole.

McIlroy reflected further connected nan unit he feels has been lifted disconnected his shoulders aft nan vexation of respective missed opportunities to unafraid nan famed Green Jacket awarded to nan Masters winner.

"I've been coming present for 17 years, I had my first existent chance astatine winning this 14 years ago. It didn't rather hap that time and past for nan past 10 years I've been coming present and trying to complete nan Grand Slam.

"Every twelvemonth I've travel present location has been a batch riding connected this week for evident reasons. Some years I handled it well, immoderate years I didn't, but thankfully, finally, I was capable to get complete nan line.

"There were a fewer debased points. Driving retired of Magnolia Lane connected Sunday nights and it not happening truthful to yet get nan occupation done this twelvemonth is unbelievably satisfying, specified a typical moment."

McIlroy has 2 much fields to compete successful earlier contesting nan Open Championship successful his autochthonal state successful July but his thoughts are already turning to returning to Royal Portrush successful nan dream of succeeding Shane Lowry successful winning nan title there.

"I can't hold to spell backmost to spell backmost to Portrush successful July pinch this [the Masters title] connected tow.

"Shane's defence astatine Portrush is going to beryllium astonishing this twelvemonth and hopefully I'll person thing to opportunity astir that arsenic well.

"I'm very proud of wherever I'm from and each clip I spell backmost I realise that much and more."