Relaxed Rory McIlroy in Masters mindset as he eyes holy grail

Happy, relaxed and unstressed. Rory McIlroy believes he is in the right frame of mind to finally conquer the Masters but he will also have to tame his demon holes at Augusta National and stop the hottest player in golf.

The 27-year-old will today embark on his third attempt to complete a career grand slam of major victories in his ninth Masters appearance, having acknowledged this is the tournament that applies the most pressure to his competitive psyche.

The Masters remains McIlroy’s holy grail and he will tee off his opening round at 6.41pm Irish time believing he has approached it in the best way possible, dismissing the gremlins that have put him on tenterhooks in previous lead-ins to the first major of the year.