Northern Ireland’s Rory McIlroy says there is no “panic” despite not winning a major for four years.
McIlroy, 29, missed the cut at the US Open three weeks ago, which extended the gap since his last of his four majors at the 2014 US PGA.
“Nothing is going to change in my life whether I win a major or not,” said McIlroy on the eve of the Irish Open.
“I’d be disappointed if I didn’t but I don’t panic. It doesn’t keep me up at night.”
McIlroy had high hopes of completing the career Grand Slam as he started in the final group in this year’s Masters, only for his challenge to fizzle out as Patrick Reed clinched victory.
An opening round of 80 at the US Open then resulted in the former world number one missing the cut in the season’s second major at Shinnecock Hills as Brooks Koepka successfully defended the title.
“I was proud of myself just to get into the final group at the Masters. I didn’t have a good Sunday,” said McIlroy, who is ranked eighth in the world and will attempt to win his second Open Championship at Carnoustie in two weeks.
“The US Open was the US Open. I’ve got two more chances to win this year to hopefully play myself into contention.
“My goal this year, it wasn’t to win majors. It was just to give myself a chance and to put myself into positions to see how I fare.
“I did that at Augusta. I felt like I learned a bit from it and then hopefully going into Carnoustie and [the US PGA at] Bellerive, I can put myself in similar positions.”
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