McIlroy eyes future goals after Masters win, says Justin Rose 'deserves' another major

McIlroy became just the fourth player to win back-to-back editions of The Masters, while Rose has finished runner-up at The Masters three times without lifting the trophy.

The Englishman was again in contention this year and briefly held a two-shot lead during a fluctuating final round, but back-to-back bogeys around Amen Corner saw him slip back before eventually finishing tied for third, two strokes off the lead.

Despite another near-miss, Rose insisted he will "keep knocking on that door", marking his seventh top-three finish in a major and 17th top-10 since his 2013 US Open triumph. McIlroy praised the 45-year-old's continued competitiveness.

"What he [Rose] is doing at his age is incredible and I think everyone would love to see him get another major, because I think he deserves it," McIlroy told Sky Sports.

"What Rose is doing is sort of the blueprint for me. I feel like I can look at him and see myself competing at the highest level when I'm that age, as well."

McIlroy took a three-week break from the PGA Tour ahead of The Masters, despite withdrawing from the Arnold Palmer Invitational through injury and struggling for form at The Players. He instead focused his preparation around Augusta National, treating it as his "home course".

During that period, he made several scouting visits and revealed mid-tournament that he would often drop his daughter Poppy at school before travelling to Augusta and returning the same day. The approach ultimately paid off.

"I took three weeks into this event to make sure that my body was right, to make sure my preparation was right," McIlroy added. "I'm not going to do that for every major, because I'm not able to, but I think I felt the most prepared coming into this event than I ever had.

"I played the golf course so much and I had such a comfortable feeling going here. Honestly, over the last few weeks, it has felt like my home golf course because I've been here so much. I think to see that preparation pay off is amazing."

McIlroy appeared in full control at the halfway stage with a record six-shot lead, but a third-round 73 and a slow start on Sunday left him three shots behind heading into the final round.

He responded with four birdies in a seven-hole stretch around the turn, giving himself enough cushion to bogey the 72nd hole and still secure victory for a second successive year.

"I wish I had made it easier after Friday night but just incredible," McIlroy admitted. "I had to reset after Saturday night.

"Going back to what Harry [Diamond] said to me this time last year 'pal we would have taken this on Monday morning'. If somebody would have told me when I arrived to Augusta on Saturday afternoon that I would be tied for the lead going into the final round I would be like 'yeah absolutely I will take that'.

"I just had to remind myself of that. Yes, had I given away that cushion I built up, absolutely (disappointed). But Cam [Young] played amazing, Scottie [Scheffler] played amazing. I shot a 73, I didn't shoot a 75 or 76 and put myself out of it.

"I could have, but I hung in there, I grinded, I shot something that was at least respectable to give myself a chance going into Sunday. It wasn't ideal, but it wasn't disastrous.

"We're all nitpickers and I can nitpick away at so many things I could have done better, but it's so nice to know that - even when I don't have my best - that I'm still able to get the job done."

The victory moves McIlroy halfway towards a second career Grand Slam — a feat achieved only by Jack Nicklaus and Tiger Woods — while also lifting him into a tie for 12th on the all-time list of major winners.

"For me, it's the majors, it's Ryder Cups and it's the biggest tournaments in the world - that's what keeps me going and that's what's going to keep going from 36 to when I'm 45 for example," McIlroy insisted.

He then said: "I have the opportunity to do them all, which is amazing. I've won two Masters and two PGA Championships and I've got a chance to win two US Opens and two Opens.

"I said last year, after the Grand Slam, that everything else is sort of a cherry on top. Last year, after getting over that hurdle, I just feel like it makes the next few years of my career have potential and it's an amazing place to be."