Rory McIlroy "wants to be part of the conversation" - and is ready to let his golf do the talking - as he uses the success of Jordan Spieth and Jason Day to drive him on in his quest to complete a Grand Slam at this week's Masters.
Spieth, 22, stormed to two Majors last year, including a stunning wire-to-wire success at Augusta, while Day comes into this tournament as the world No 1, fresh from victories at the Arnold Palmer Invitational and the WGC-Dell Match Play Championship.
Four-time Major winner McIlroy embraces the quality of the challengers he will face off with in Georgia, and is desperate to leave them in the shade come Sunday.
“I’d be lying if I said those guys having success doesn’t motivate me; of course it does," he said. "What Jordan did last year at the US Open, and what Jason did at the end of the summer and going into this year as well, I don't want to be left behind. I want to be part of that conversation.
“You want to be the best. You want to go out there and win tournaments. I feel like I’m close."
"We’re a great group of guys that play hard but like to have fun" - Rory McIlroy
One formidable name that won't be on the leaderboard this weekend is Tiger Woods. The four-time Masters victor ruled himself out of the tournament due to a back injury.
McIlroy referenced the American's previous domination of the sport, but said a new wave of young players have ramped up the competition.
"For the game it’s great to have a few guys at the top. It’s much different to the years Tiger dominated," the Holywood man added. "From '97 to 2007, I don't know if we’re going to see a better ten-year stretch of golf in our lifetime.
"What he did in that time span was amazing. Bit I think golf is very lucky to have a younger generation coming through that can grow the game, especially with it being in the Olympics.
"You're trying to reach the masses but at the same time have guys that can be role models as well. You look at Jason, Jordan, Rickie and myself, we’re a great group of guys that play hard but like to have fun and travel the world. I think golf is in a good place right now.”
