AUGUSTA, Ga. -- If Rory McIlroy were destined to win all four major championships and complete a Grand Slam, he would undoubtedly be the first to say that even he is surprised that the Masters is the missing one.
Of the four biggest tournaments in the game -- along with the U.S. Open, The Open and the PGA Championship -- the Northern Irishman seemed best suited to this one.
Four consecutive top-10 finishes would seem to bear that out, as would a scoring average of 71.82. Holding the 54-hole lead in 2011 and being on the cusp of victory offers another example.
But McIlroy blew that Masters in spectacular fashion with a final-round 80 -- then won four majors in the next three years, including the very next one at the U.S. Open. He added two PGA Championships and The Open, winning back-to-back in 2014.
That put him on the cusp of completing a career Grand Slam by winning the Masters, a task he will undertake again when the 82nd Masters Tournament begins on Thursday.
"I'm an avid fan of the history of the game, and I know a win here and what that would mean and where that would put me in history alongside some of the greatest that have ever played this game, and that would mean an awful lot to me,'' McIlroy said.
"But I have to try and clear my head of that come Thursday morning and go out and play good golf, hit good golf shots, have good course management, hole putts. If you do that enough times, hopefully that score on Sunday evening's the lowest out of all 87 that are here and you walk away with something that you'll have for the rest of your life.''
What McIlroy, 28, would have is a place alongside Gene Sarazen, Ben Hogan, Gary Player, Jack Nicklaus and Tiger Woods as the only players to own each of the four major championships in a career.
Phil Mickelson has a chance to join them, too, with a win at the U.S. Open. Jordan Spieth can do it by winning the PGA Championship.
Among the greats who never accomplished the feat? Arnold Palmer. Tom Watson. Lee Trevino. Sam Snead. Byron Nelson.
McIlroy has learned that not getting caught up in it all is probably the most prudent way to proceed. Three years ago, after winning The Open and PGA in consecutive starts in 2014, he arrived at Augusta National with considerable hype and attention.
"I felt that anticipation, and I nearly built it up in my head a little bit too much,'' he said. "I don't feel like I'm under any sort of radar. I come here with one goal, and that is to win the tournament. And I'm sure everyone that's playing this tournament has the same goals and objectives. And that's all I'm trying to do.''
To that end, winning the Arnold Palmer Invitational two weeks ago was a big help. It ended an 18-month stretch without a victory and gave him a boost of confidence. Perhaps just as importantly, he wouldn't have to face the questions about not winning for so long.
Then there is the preparation. McIlroy came to Augusta last week and played 54 holes in two days. A few weeks prior, he got in 36 holes.
Although the conditions are unlikely to be the same during the tournament, there is no harm in getting as familiar as possible with the place.
Amazingly, this will be McIlroy's 10th Masters. He was aware that Ben Hogan and Sam Snead won in their 10th appearances -- and that Arnold Palmer was 28 when he won the first of his four.
None of that matters if McIlroy doesn't shoot the scores.
"I never come in here thinking I've served my time and this is my turn -- because it's never your turn,'' he said. "You have to get out and get it. It's not going to fall into your lap. You have to go out and win the Masters, and you have to go and earn it. And I'm here this week to earn it all.''