Rory McIlroy says defending his Masters title is 'just ‌a part of the journey'

[p]A year after completing the career Grand Slam at Augusta National, [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/mcilroy-rory/djwanksN/"]McIlroy[/a] joined [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/nicklaus-jack/6qVIRQU3/"]Jack Nicklaus[/a], [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/faldo-nick/fsHhWn0S/"]Nick ‌Faldo[/a] and [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/woods-tiger/jcA2kkj7/"]Tiger Woods[/a] as the only men to win back-to-back Masters titles.[/p][p]But the 36-year-old Northern Irishman made clear ‌he was not framing the latest victory as the culmination of his ambitions.[/p][p][b]"I ‌don't want to put a number on it, but I feel like this win is ... just ‌a part of the journey,"[/b] McIlroy told reporters after finishing 12-under at the ‌90th edition of the Masters.[/p][p]"I still have things I want to achieve, but I still want to enjoy it as well.[/p][p][b]"I've waited so long to win the Masters, and all of a sudden I win ‌two in a row. So I still want to ⁠enjoy it,"[/b] he added.[/p][p]"I don't think I'll go ‌through that lull of motivation or the sort of things that I was feeling last year ​post winning this tournament."[/p][embed guid="319b9e19-bc67-4b59-9af9-cbe2f1a1706a" url="https://x.com/TheMasters/status/2043494380573450733" social-type="twitter" /][h2]Persistence pays off[/h2][p]McIlroy's title defence was anything but straightforward.[/p][p]After building a six-shot advantage at the halfway mark, he saw that cushion disappear on ​Saturday and began Sunday tied for the lead with [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/young-cameron/WAjf7EFq/"]Cameron Young[/a] at 11 under.[/p][p]He recovered from an erratic start and leaned heavily on his short game to close out ⁠the title in gusty conditions.[/p][p]Augusta ​had again reminded him of a lesson that had shaped much of his career: persistence matters.[/p][p][b]"Good things come to those who wait. Just keep going," [/b]McIlroy said.[/p][p]He pointed to key up-and-downs on the 16th and 17th holes and a carefully judged tee shot at the par-three ‌12th as decisive moments.[/p][p]He also said a Saturday evening range session helped him neutralise a draw that had started creeping into his swing, allowing him to hit better iron shots on Sunday when he needed them most.[/p][p]By winning his sixth major, McIlroy drew level with Englishman Faldo and acknowledged that the debate about his place among the continent's all-time greats would start afresh.[/p][p][b]"There's obviously going to be that conversation," [/b]McIlroy said. [b]"It's a cool conversation to be a part of."[/b][/p][embed guid="e37c75f5-f615-4341-9278-a03d3a852d20" url="https://x.com/TheMasters/status/2043509475492188338" social-type="twitter" /][h2]Praises parents for support[/h2][p]For all the talk of history, legacy and records, one of the most meaningful parts of the day for McIlroy was far ‌more personal.[/p][p]His parents, Gerry and Rosie, were at Augusta this time after missing his ​triumph last year, and McIlroy said he had caught himself thinking about them during ‌the round.[/p][p]When victory was secured, he looked beyond the 18th green and saw his family waiting.[/p][p][b]"I can't believe I've just done it again," [/b]he said he thought in that moment, describing the feeling as one of joy more than relief.[/p][p]He later said that he had disproved his parents' theory that he had only won ⁠in 2025 because they were not there.[/p][p][b]"I ⁠obviously wouldn't be sitting up here ‌if it wasn't for them,"[/b] McIlroy said. [b]"It's amazing to have them here."[/b][/p]