World No. 1 Rory McIlroy insists he’s in a far better place mind and game after having the weight lifted from his shoulders in trying to capture a Grand Slam at last month’s Masters.

In the three events McIlroy has contested since finishing fourth at Augusta National McIlroy has won two and finished 8th last week at the Players.

World No. 1 Rory McIlroy finds his way into another victory jacket but it’s a lighter Augusta National green coloured item of apparel he still so desperately seeks. (Photo – www.golfbytourmiss.com)

It seemed clear to most observers McIlroy was his normal self throughout Masters week and by his own admission also it was not till he posted a final Augusta round 66 to share fourth place he’s ‘lightened up’.

And that has been no more evident in capturing last fortnight’s WGC – Cadillac Championship and today storming his way to a seven shot win and a second Wells Fargo Championship title.

“I’m not going to lie,” he said.

“There was a lot of expectation going into Augusta, a lot of hype, lot of expectation that I put on myself.

“It was a great opportunity to do something that very few players in this game have done but then I’ll go back next year with the same opportunity.

“But, yeah, since then I guess it was a little bit of a weight lifted off the shoulders and free up and not think about it and just go on and play the rest of the season and play the way I know that I can play and that’s why I’m excited about what’s coming up with the three Majors still to play and everything else.”

And McIlroy now has still much to look forward to in 2015.

He was heading straight to his private plane and a trans-Atlantic flight to London in readiness for this coming week’s defence of his BMW PGA title and then the following week’s Irish Open he is hosting at Royal County Down.

And here’s a fact – McIlroy has now won three events before the end of June and he’s never done that before in any other season.