Rory McIlroy's next chapter might be his greatest yet

"It took me 10 years to win my fifth major, and then my sixth one's come pretty soon after it. I'm not putting a number on it, but I certainly don't want to stop here."

12 months ago, there was a sense of completion as Rory McIlroy finally overcame the weight of history to triumph at Augusta National and secure that rare piece of golfing immortality as a grand slam champion.

One year removed from that breathless Sunday, the Northern Irishman has etched another place for himself as just the fourth individual to successfully defend at the Masters.

This final day wasn't dissimilar in terms of the drama and the sheer willpower it took to succeed once more, but it feels like a different man is now departing from Magnolia Lane with his treasured green jacket in tow.

McIlroy's Second Masters Victory Felt Different

Having fulfilled a lifelong dream last time, there was a lull of competitive motivation in the weeks that followed his victory in the 89th Masters. McIlroy appeared to lack focus and direction, unsure of what his next goal should be, a relatable human condition of the sort that makes the 36-year-old such a compelling figure. 

The literary Captain Ahab never discovered just how he'd feel had he killed Moby Dick, but that was McIlroy's equivalent, his white whale, the ultimate conquering of an obsession.

But this time, in the immediate aftermath of the 90th Masters, the question of what's next has already been answered. "I said at the start of the weekend here, I felt like the grand slam was the destination, and I realised it wasn't. I'm on this journey to - I don't know, I just won my sixth major, and I feel like I'm in a really good spot with my game and my body.

"I don't want to put a number on it, but I feel like this win is just - I don't want to say a stop on the journey, but yeah, it's just a part of the journey. I still have things I want to achieve, but I still want to enjoy it as well."

Rory Has Matured Into His Role

McIlroy has matured gracefully as a golfer. He's regularly spoken of taking pride in his perseverance. He has also worn his defeats and disappointments and risen from them. The legendary Jack Nicklaus is a mentor and confidant. We mustn't forget that aside from the Golden Bear's record 18 major wins, the game's greatest champion also finished runner-up an astonishing 19 times. There are a lot of blows to be taken in this game and the defining figures in the sport are those who have humbly accepted that reality.

It takes a resilient player to lose a commanding lead, as McIlroy did, to battle with his swing, and recover from all the speed bumps that the pressured cauldron of Augusta National can reveal at the cruellest moments.

We can be guilty of viewing brilliance as being solely about serene passages of play and the reel of glorious shots that will dominate highlights for years to come, but there is a lot of suffering to manage through first. And that is where the McIlroy of today has transformed himself - he is able to suffer on the biggest stages as well as anyone else.

Where the likes of Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson have shown themselves to be ill-suited, and with a dearth of willing candidates in the generation behind them, McIlroy has also taken on a role as golf's best statesman. Never shy to express an opinion or two, which naturally brings with it adversaries in this reactionary social media age, the son of Rosie and Gerry is always eloquent and has aged into this role that can be described, not flippantly, as being the consciousness of the pro game.

The manner in which he carries the responsibilities of being a Masters champion are admirable. Given that he will hold that status for 24 months, the leadership at Augusta National Golf Club couldn't have dreamt of a better ambassador for their tournament.

Career Defined by Remarkable Longevity

Reflecting on his journey to this point, the longevity of McIlroy is extraordinary. The low amateur in the Open at Carnoustie in 2007 soon turned professional, established his place on the European Tour that autumn, and has only fleetingly glanced backwards since.

First reaching the world's top ten in the November of 2009, only one calendar year in the near two decades since then has ended with McIlroy not part of that most elite of brackets. That was in 2017 when he concluded the campaign as the 11th ranked golfer on the planet.

Given that it's been such a consistent tale of excellence, it's perhaps unfair to chapter his career, but there are a trio of distinct volumes to examine.

You have the early days, the numerous breakthroughs, the fearless style in which he moved on from the crushing disappointment of squandering an opportunity at the 2011 Masters by winning a US Open, an Open Championship, and two PGAs by 2014, mostly in dominant fashion.

Then there was the quest that became an odyssey. Despite being the game's most visible star player post-Tiger and routinely winning elsewhere, there was a decade without - not only that elusive Masters - but any major title. 

For too long he was increasingly framed by the despair of St Andrews, Los Angeles Country Club and Pinehurst, and those heavy expectations each time he arrived in Augusta, Georgia.

What The Future Holds For The Northern Irishman

That all changed last April, which is when this current chapter began, the one where he establishes his legacy and place in history. Woods, Ben Crenshaw, Hale Irwin, Julius Boros and Henry Cotton all went over a decade between major wins, but while their droughts were ended by what were ultimately valedictory triumphs, the Northern Irishman has gone a step further and added another to his tally, with time for significantly more to follow.

You're left with the sense that this part of the tale will last as long as McIlroy feels both the inspiration and desire to accomplish further glory.

Nicklaus, Woods, Walter Hagen, Ben Hogan, Gary Player, Tom Watson, Harry Vardon, Bobby Jones, Gene Sarazen, Sam Snead and Arnold Palmer - the immortals - are the only players who have more major titles than McIlroy. He's already made a strong case to be the greatest European male golfer of all-time, an argument that could become inarguable in the immediate future.

Winning the US Open at Pebble Beach is another step on the road of emulating both Nicklaus and Woods, while lifting the Claret Jug at the Old Course would be the grandest and most rewarding leap of all. Both of those opportunities will come in 2027. And that's not addressing what McIlroy jokingly referred to as his "home course" given the time spent there in recent weeks.

There are eight golfers who have at least three Masters title to their name - with only Nicklaus (six), Woods (five) and Palmer (four) going beyond that. None have won three on the trot. Given the benefits of a lifetime exemption and the numerous chances that he will surely have, additional success would appear more likely than not, although the formidable Scottie Scheffler might have a retort against that statement.

After that seemingly lost decade in the events that matter the most, Rory McIlroy winning majors feels normal again, and that's a tantalising prospect for the months and years ahead.