Rory McIlroy says he is “more motivated than I’ve ever been” as he returns to action for the first time since successfully defending the Masters.

The world number two became just the fourth player to win successive Green Jackets when he held off Scottie Scheffler at Augusta National last month.

Last year, Northern Ireland’s McIlroy became just the sixth man to complete the career Grand Slam with his play-off victory over Justin Rose, and he admits the aftermath of his second Augusta triumph “feels a lot different”.

“Even winning felt different,” McIlroy said before his PGA Tour return at this week’s Truist Championship.

“I guess, you know, and I’ve spoke about this a lot, I felt like winning the Grand Slam was going to be this life-changing thing and in some ways it was, but in other ways I had to remember like, no, I still have a lot of my career left and I want to keep playing and keep competing.

“So this year was, I think, validation for all the work that I’ve put in over the last few years to get myself back to this place where I’m winning majors.”