This year, he is sharing the billing with Jordan Spieth and Jason Day, who have won three out of the last four majors and moved ahead of him in the world rankings.
Spieth won the Masters, denying McIlroy his moment of historymaking, and then added the US Open. Day dominated the second half of last year, culminating in his PGA Championship win.
The 26-year-old Northern Irishman is fully aware that predictions he was about to open a period of almost Tiger-esque domination of world golf have proved to be well wide of the mark and that the gauntlet has been firmly thrown down in front of him.
“I’d be lying if I said those guys having success doesn’t motivate me. Of course it does,” the four-time major winner said. “What Jordan did here last year, the US Open and the whole way through the summer and what Jason Day did during the summer and this year, as well… yeah, I don’t want to be left behind.
“I want to be a part of that conversation. I’m clinging on at the minute – a few wins will change that. You don’t want to see guys beating you. You want to be the best, so you want to go out there and win tournaments and try as hard as you can. But I feel like I’m close.”
McIlroy says that despite failing to win a tournament so far this year, he could even benefit from sharing the spotlight with defending champion Spieth and Day, who is out to win back-to-back majors.
“I was probably a little bit more exposed in terms of eyeballs on me and media coverage and whatever,” he said. “But I feel good. I probably feel a little bit more subdued going in this time because I maybe haven’t had the win this year.”
There is also the fact that McIlroy knows his game, with his natural draw and high trajectories, is ideally suited to the specific demands of Augusta National.
“I feel like I’m a good enough player. I feel like I’ve got everything I need to become a Masters champion,” he added. “But I think each and every year that passes that I don’t, it will become increasingly more difficult. So there’s no time like the present to get it done.”