A confident Rory McIlroy says he expects to bring his major record to at least five this year as he prepares for the Arnold Palmer Invitational.
The world number one in Northern Ireland has not had success in the majors since 2014.
“I remember when we had this conversation at the end of 2013, I predicted that I would win two and I continued to do so,” McIlroy told BBC Sport NI.
“So I predict that I will win at least one.”
He added: “I think golf has changed a lot since then, a lot of new golfers have come on the scene – Brooks Koepka has won four, Jordan Speith has won three, many new guys, new blood and new competition.
“But the fact that I’m still up there giving myself a chance week after week, playing among the best golf courses of my career gives me a lot of confidence this season.”
Early success
The 30-year-old opened his main account by winning the US Open 2011 with a record score before winning the USPGA title a year later.
The Open Championship and a second USPGA victory took place in 2014 with the Masters required to become just the sixth player to complete a career Grand Slam.
McIlroy, who won the Arnold Palmer Invitational at Bay Hill in 2018, returned to first place in the world last month for the first time in five years.
“I hope I’m not going to win one more, I’m going to win a few more. It’s been quite a long time, five and a half years since I won a major,” he added.
“It seems like a long time ago and a lot has happened since then, but I know how to do it, I have already done it and I know how to do it.”
“Even in these winning years or days, I have beaten the best golf courses. I have won two FedEx cups since then, I have won a players’ championship, I won this tournament in Bay Hill.
“I have done a lot of great things in golf, so it’s just a matter of having a good week.”
A confident Rory McIlroy says he expects to bring his major record to at least five this year as he prepares for the Arnold Palmer Invitational.
The world number one in Northern Ireland has not had success in the majors since 2014.
“I remember when we had this conversation at the end of 2013, I predicted that I would win two and I continued to do so,” McIlroy told BBC Sport NI.
“So I predict that I will win at least one.”
He added: “I think golf has changed a lot since then, a lot of new golfers have come on the scene – Brooks Koepka has won four, Jordan Speith has won three, many new guys, new blood and new competition.
“But the fact that I’m still up there giving myself a chance week after week, playing among the best golf courses of my career gives me a lot of confidence this season.”
Early success
The 30-year-old opened his main account by winning the US Open 2011 with a record score before winning the USPGA title a year later.
The Open Championship and a second USPGA victory took place in 2014 with the Masters required to become just the sixth player to complete a career Grand Slam.
McIlroy, who won the Arnold Palmer Invitational at Bay Hill in 2018, returned to first place in the world last month for the first time in five years.
“I hope I’m not going to win one more, I’m going to win a few more. It’s been quite a long time, five and a half years since I won a major,” he added.
“It seems like a long time ago and a lot has happened since then, but I know how to do it, I have already done it and I know how to do it.”
“Even in these winning years or days, I have beaten the best golf courses. I have won two FedEx cups since then, I have won a players’ championship, I won this tournament in Bay Hill.
“I have done a lot of great things in golf, so it’s just a matter of having a good week.”