Rory McIlroy believes he is flying under the radar ahead of the 2020 Masters Tournament as he bids to complete the career grand slam.
The 31-year-old needs a victory at Augusta National to join Gene Sarazen, Ben Hogan, Gary Player, Jack Nicklaus and Tiger Woods as the only players to have won all four Major Championships.
Since winning the third leg of the grand slam at the 2014 Open Championship, McIlroy recorded four straight top ten finishes at the Masters prior to last year's joint 21st place.
He was poised to enter this year’s event in great form and possibly as the World Number One, only for the coronavirus shutdown to cause the tournament to be postponed until November.
However, Bryson DeChambeau's dominant win at the U.S. Open Championship at Winged Foot in September means he has taken the headlines this week instead of McIlroy, and the Northern Irishman was more than happy to step aside.
"I like it. I've always liked sort of doing my own thing and trying to stay as low key as possible," McIlroy said.
"Sometimes the way I've played over the years, that hasn't happened because I've won some tournaments and I've been on some pretty good runs at times.
A new addition to my golf ball for the week🍑 @TaylorMadeGolf pic.twitter.com/Q7bSEV0g1q
— Rory McIlroy (@McIlroyRory) November 8, 2020
"But yeah, I don't mind this. This is nice. It feels like everything this year. It's more subdued. It's more relaxed. That's the feel for me, anyway."
The World Number Five admitted that it may have taken him a little longer to adjust to life after lockdown but remains confident he can claim victory at Augusta National.
McIlroy recorded seven successive top five finishes worldwide before the global crisis - including one victory - but only has two top tens since golf's return, although he did finish in a tie for eighth at Winged Foot.
"I've always felt like I had the game to do well around here and to play well. It's just a matter of getting out of my own way and letting it happen," he said.
"You have to go out and earn it. You can't just rely on people saying that you're going to win one. Greg Norman never did. Ernie Els never did.
"There are a lot of great people that have played this game that have never won a Green Jacket. It's not a foregone conclusion and I know that. I have to go out and earn it and play good golf.
"I think nowadays, with how many great players there are, I need to play my best golf to have a chance.
"I think having a bit of length this week is going to be an advantage. The course is pretty soft. With the rain forecast as well, it might get even softer.
"The game feels pretty good. Before the world changed in March, I was playing pretty good.
"I got to Number One in the world, was playing pretty consistent golf and then after we came back out of the lockdown, there's been really good stuff in there but there's been some lacklustre stuff too, lapses of concentration.
"It's been an adjustment to get used to but we've been in it now for a few months and feel like it maybe took me a little longer to adjust than some people, but this is the way it's going to be for a while.
"They are still handing out trophies at the end of every week so you may as well try and play as hard as possible for them."
