• The Masters

Confident McIlroy eyeing Masters win

ESPN staff
April 9, 2013
Rory McIlroy wants to wear the famous green jacket at Augusta © Getty Images
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Rory McIlroy only has desires on triumphing at The Masters after revealing anything less than a victory at Augusta will be disappointing.

The world No. 2 arrives to the opening major of the year in good form after finishing a close runner-up to Martin Laird at the Valero Texas Open on Sunday. The Northern Irishman had submitted a late entry to the event in order to gain some confidence ahead of The Masters, and says he is prepared for the major beginning on Thursday.

"Last week, it went really well, almost perfectly," McIlroy said. "I got what I wanted out of it in terms of playing more competitive golf, getting a scorecard in my hand, shooting scores. A bonus was getting into contention. How I played when I got into contention was really pleasing."

Prior to his run in Texas McIlroy had been struggling, making just one cut in an event in 2013. However, his game appears to be in decent shape following his performance last weekend, and he arrives to The Masters full of confidence and out to claim the top prize.

"Would anything less than a win be disappointing this week? Yeah, it would be," McIlroy said. "Every time you come here to Augusta, you're wanting to win that green jacket. Every time you don't is another chance missed, I guess. If I'm sitting here on Sunday night and I finished second or I've given it a good run, you can't be too disappointed, because you've had a great tournament. But the ultimate goal is getting one of those green jackets."

Poor displays from McIlroy have been put down to his new equipment after signing a multi-million pound deal with Nike at the start of the year. But, the Northern Irishman feels he is getting to grips with his clubs. "I feel they are a part of me now," he said.

McIlroy lost the No. 1 world ranking to Tiger Woods following the American's victory at the Arnold Palmer Invitational in March, but has played down the head-to-head battle being developed between the pair.

"I don't see myself as a rival to Tiger or to anyone," McIlroy insisted. "Tiger has been on the Tour, I don't know what, 12 more years than me, or something like that? He has 77 PGA appearances. I've got six. He has 14 majors and I have two. If I saw myself as rival to Tiger, I wouldn't be doing him much justice."

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