Butch Harmon insists Rory McIlroy will relish defending his Masters title without added pressure, viewing the Northern Irishman's 2026 challenge as a chance to savor the experience rather than a burden. Harmon, speaking ahead of working for Sky Sports at Augusta, believes McIlroy's recent career Grand Slam victory has removed the intense pressure McIlroy felt while chasing major titles. The world No 2 now joins golf's elite as only the sixth player to achieve the feat, yet Harmon predicts a more relaxed McIlroy will thrive at the Masters, contrasting his current mindset with the tension that fueled his dramatic play-off win over Justin Rose last year.

McIlroy's path to Augusta was paved by overcoming a 21-major top-10 drought since 2014, ending it with a spectacular, albeit back-nine dramatic, victory that saw him blow a lead before rallying.