Rory McIlroy is relishing a change of format at the WGC-Dell Technologies Match Play just days after storming to victory at the Arnold Palmer Invitational.
The Northern Irishman hit a flawless eight-under-par 64 at Bay Hill to surge to a three-stroke victory over American Bryson DeChambeau after trailing by two shots heading into the final round.
It was the first time McIlroy had tasted victory since September 2016 and his chances of extending that winning feeling looks in good stead as he arrives at the Austin Country Club with strong history at the tournament.
The 28 year old won the event in 2015 and was runner-up in 2012, while he also recorded fourth and fifth-placed finishes during his career and hopes he can cap off his tenth appearance at the competition with a second successive triumph.
"It's good to be back at the match play. I've always enjoyed this format," the 13-time European Tour winner said.
"I've always enjoyed this tournament, whether it was in Arizona, San Francisco, here in Austin. I've enjoyed it.
"I feel like I've got a pretty good record. I've got to the final once. I won once. I got to the semifinal here a couple of years ago. So I've had a couple of deep runs in the tournament. And hopefully I can do that again this week.
"I've always liked this tournament because it's the least pressured event of the year because anyone can beat anyone in 18 holes. The field is the top guys in the world. You don't have any easy matches."
The Masters Tournament is the only major championship which still eludes McIlroy in his quest for a career grand slam following success at the US Open Championship in 2011, The Open Championship in 2014 and the US PGA Championship on two occasions in 2012 and 2014.
The field is the top guys in the world. You don't have any easy matches - Rory McIlroy
A troublesome rib injury plagued McIlroy's campaign last year but after a tied-third finish at the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship presented by EGA and second at the Omega Dubai Desert Classic at the start of the season, the World Number Seven believes it will be sooner rather than later before he adds the Augusta National title to his collection and become only the sixth player to achieve that feat.
"I'm very happy to have my game in this shape going into the first major of the year.
"Even if I hadn't won last week, just to see the signs that my golf game was in good shape would be good enough to me knowing that going into Augusta I was ready to play well.
"I've had three goes at winning the slam. This will be my fourth. I'd had maybe 12 or 13 majors before I won my first one. So you could say that the first one was maybe a little bit harder. I just needed a few more chances.
"But I only get one opportunity a year at Augusta. The last three years have went okay. I've played well. Not well enough. And hopefully I put the last piece of the puzzle in there this year and get it done."
