It's a golf course I've always felt comfortable on, one that has suited me, and I have played well here, this is my eighth year in a row starting the season off here, so I'm pretty familiar with the place, and looking forward to another strong start to the season.

Rory McIlroy

Categorized in : Sports

I shot better today than I did the previous time I played here, so it's a little bit of an accomplishment.

The conditions were obviously very tricky from the start. You know, from the first hole, it was always going to be a day like that, i feel like I salvaged something out of the round the last couple holes, but it was just a day to keep trying, not to give up.

I feel like I've got a nice schedule going into Augusta, i'm not playing too much, but I'm playing just enough that I should be as sharp as possible going in there. I haven't thought about it. What I really thought about over the past couple of weeks is getting ready for these events coming up, and trying to play as well as I possibly can in those. So that gives me a little confidence going into a little break to prepare as well as I can for Augusta.

It came as a big shock when they announced yesterday Davis was go... by Rory McIlroy

It came as a big shock when they announced yesterday Davis was going to be the next U.S. captain.

It came as a big shock when they announced yesterday Davis was going to be the next U.S. captain, it will be great to see Davis and (European captain) Darren (Clarke) go head-to-head at Hazeltine and they will be formidable opponents.

He (Fowler) was kicking me on today, i didn't want to let him get too far ahead. It looked like he was going to shoot quite a low one, I was in neutral and needed to get something going.

I just needed to hang on his coattails, he was kicking me on today, for sure. I was trying to keep up with him and didn't want to let him get too far ahead.

One of the goals this week is just to have no penalty shots when I don't need them, and see where I end up at the end of the week.

I'll take that boarding pass out at the end of the year and see how well I've done, i feel 2014 has really set me up for another great year. I'm coming in with a nice little bit of momentum, and (my) game is feeling good.

I didn't achieve everything that I wanted to last year. by Rory McIlroy

I didn't achieve everything that I wanted to last year.

I'm in my off-season so I can enjoy myself, enjoy my Christmas di... by Rory McIlroy

I'm in my off-season so I can enjoy myself, enjoy my Christmas dinner and have a few drinks.

I can't explain it, it's been a week of very mixed emotions but I'm sitting here looking at this trophy going, 'How the hell did it happen?'.

I won a major in 2011 and 2012 but not in 2013 so I'll try to mak... by Rory McIlroy

I won a major in 2011 and 2012 but not in 2013 so I'll try to make up for that with two this year.

Everything's so instant now and everyone doesn't have as much time as they used to so you maybe try some way of speeding the game up, the viewership in golf is up but the participation is down. People enjoy watching the game but gone are the days that you could spend five or six hours on a golf course.

To win it for the first time in 2012 felt like a great achievement but to win again in 2014 is testimony to what has been a truly fabulous year for me.

I need a fast start tomorrow to have a chance, it depends too on what the guys ahead of me do. I need some help. But the greens have been firmer every day. So a low score is higher than it was.

I used to be uncomfortable. There's added scrutiny and there's added criticism, but I learned to deal with it. It's just part of the title. I want to keep it for as long as I possibly can.

In terms of ball striking, I've driven it better, which is a huge part of my game, when I drive it well I can give myself shorter irons into greens and more opportunities for birdies. My mid-range putting has been very good this year.

I learned a lot from it. I feel I came through this year stronger and wiser and can go into 2015 in a much better place.

It's not something I thought possible, I will work hard and make... by Rory McIlroy

It's not something I thought possible, I will work hard and make sure I'm ready for that.