The Northern Irish golfer completed the career Grand Slam after triumphing at Augusta on Sunday (13.04.25) and is confident that he can go and win more majors after ending his wait to win the Green Jacket.

McIlroy - who ended his 11-year wait for a major triumph - told BBC Sport NI: "Getting the Masters, the career Grand Slam, the fifth major, getting all that out of the way. I think it will allow me to play with a lot more freedom.

"I really do think it's going to free me up. It's been a long time coming."

McIlroy says he is honoured to join an illustrious list of golfers who have won all four of the sport's biggest prizes and is also delighted to join the greats who have triumphed at Augusta.

The world number two - who defeated Justin Rose in a play-off to land the title after a rollercoaster final round - said: "I don't think it will sink in for a while. There have only ever been five other players in history that have done it - Jack [Nicklaus], Tiger [Woods], Gary Player, Gene Sarazen, Ben Hogan, the creme de la creme of golf.

"To think that I've been able to put my name alongside theirs.

"I had a little reception with the members [at Augusta] and I said, 'I'm going to be going to that Champions' Dinner every Tuesday night,' and they're going to have to wheel me out of here until I'm 90 years old."

McIlroy is relieved that he will no longer have the pressure of trying to complete the Grand Slam on every visit he makes to Augusta.

He said: "I've been coming here for 17 years, I had my first real chance at winning this 14 years ago. It didn't quite happen that day and then for the last 10 years I've been coming here and trying to complete the Grand Slam.

"Every year I've come here there has been a lot riding on this week for obvious reasons. Some years I handled it well, some years I didn't, but thankfully, finally, I was able to get over the line."