Rory McIlroy has cut a relaxed figure during his first official appearances at Augusta National.
During a press conference on Monday (April 6th), the 19-year-old Ulsterman admitted to being impressed by the size of the crowds at Augusta, but remained unfazed by the media attention surrounding his first appearance at the Masters.
"It''s only Monday but there were 30,000 or 40,000 people around the golf course," McIlroy told BBC Sport.
Turning his attention to the tournament, he added: "If I can go out and play the way I have been playing, there''s no reason why I can''t go and try and win it."
McIlroy, who will attempt to become the first player to win on his Masters debut since Fuzzy Zoeller in 1979, also claimed that his lack of experience could be an advantage.
"I don''t have the bad thoughts or any negatives to think back on," he explained.
McIrloy will not be the only teenager making his debut appearance at Augusta this week, with Japan''s 17-year-old sensation Ryo Ishikawa also in the field alongside Danny Lee, the 18-year-old New Zealander.
07/04/2009