Rory McIlroy admits Thursday can not come soon enough as he bids to complete the career grand slam by winning the Masters . The hype surrounding McIlroy 's attempt to join Gene Sarazen , Ben Hogan , Gary Player , Jack Nicklaus and Tiger Woods in winning all four major titles has been building since the night before his Open victory at Hoylake last July . And although the return of Woods to competitive action after two months on the sidelines has taken some of the spotlight off McIlroy , the world No 1 is anxious to let his clubs do the talking . Rory McIlroy insists he has arrived at Augusta ready to mount a serious challenge on the Masters . The world No 1 shields himself from the rain as he plays a shot during a practice round . ' I said in the middle of last week , 'If Augusta was to start tomorrow , I 'd be okay . I 'm ready , '' McIlroy said on Tuesday . ' I think that 's a good indication of where I am with my game . I 've been ready for this thing to start for a week already so just trying to keep my game where it is and do some quality work , not overdo it . 'Just do the right amount so that when I got here yesterday for the first time , I was ready to play and just needed to go see the golf course . I was n't working on anything in my game , my swing . Was n't thinking about technique at all . Just all about hitting the shots I need to and thinking about how to manage my game and get it around here for the next four days . 'Results-wise , the last three tournaments have n't been what I 've wanted . I still feel like there 's plenty of positives to take from them , especially Doral and Bay Hill , I felt like I played pretty good there . A couple silly mistakes here and there , but for the most part I felt like I got what I needed out of them . 'But the last two weeks have been great . I 've just practised at home in Florida and made another trip up here a couple of Fridays ago . ' I just really felt like spending a couple of weeks away from this ( media attention ) , I guess , and just preparing at home and in private and not really having everything critiqued and analysed and over-analysed . I just wanted to get away from it all , and I feel like it 's been a good thing . ' All eyes have been on Tiger Woods ' latest comeback , which could take the pressure off of McIlroy . The Northern Irishman speaks to Wood 's girlfriend Lindsey Vonn and his children during practice . McIlroy followed Woods into the media centre at Augusta National and admitted the presence of the 14-time major winner - who was relaxed and jovial with the press - could work in his favour . ' A little bit , I guess , ' the 25-year-old added . 'It is such a big story , Tiger coming back at the Masters after a bit of a lengthy period where he has not been around . But still I 'm just here to play golf and you guys can write the stories , I wo n't read them and we 'll move on . ' McIlroy has recorded just one top-10 finish in six previous appearances at Augusta - last year 's tie for eighth - although he did take a four-shot lead into the final round in 2011 before collapsing to a closing 80 . He admits he will have to play the par fives better to have a chance of slipping on a green jacket on Sunday , covering them in level par last year compared to eight under by champion Bubba Watson , who finished eight shots ahead . McIlroy led the field heading into the final day of the 2011 Masters before suffering a dramatic meltdown . McIlroy plays a shot from the azaleas as he recorded his best finish of eighth in last year 's tournament . But he also believes Augusta National suits his game if he can take advantage of having a nine iron in his hands for second shots to holes like the 13th and 15th . ' I think I 've developed a game where I can compete at pretty much any golf course now . That might not have been the case two or three years ago , ' McIlroy added . 'But if you 're looking at the courses , Augusta 's the one that should set up the best for me just with my ball flight and being comfortable off the tee here , especially being able to turn the ball over from right to left . 'If I can play the way I know I can around here and just have a good week on the greens , then there 's no reason why I should n't have a good chance . '
World No ##kovic arrives at masters hoping to win a career grand slam . jack McIlroy insists he is ' ready ' to win his final major at masters . Northern commentator admits Tiger Woods ' comeback to work in his favour .