Monday 21 July 2014 17:12, UK
Rory McIlroy wants to dominate world golf like Tiger Woods and Jack Nicklaus after joining them as the only players to win three of golf's majors by the age of 25 with his Open Championship triumph on Sunday.
The Northern Irishman, who moved up to second in the world rankings with the victory, carded a final-round 71 to seal a two-shot win over Rickie Fowler and Sergio Garcia at Royal Liverpool and said his third major victory came courtesy of a simple two-word mantra - 'process' and 'spot'.
"That was it. With my long shots I just wanted to stick to my process and stick to making good decisions, making good swings. And then "spot" was for my putting.
"I was just picking a spot on the green and trying to roll it over my spot, roll it over my spot every time. I wasn't thinking about holing it. If that went in, then great.
"If it didn't, then I'd try it the next hole. So "process" and "spot", that's all I kept telling myself all week."
"It feels absolutely incredible," he added. "It's cool that they put your name on there even before you get it.
"Just to be sitting here and looking at this thing and having my name on it, it's a great feeling. It obviously hasn't sunk in yet. I'm going to enjoy it and let it sink in tonight in the company of my friends and family."
"I'm immensely proud of myself. To sit here 25 years of age and win my third major championship and be three-quarters of the way to the career grand slam, I never dreamed of being at this point in my career so quickly.
McIlroy believes he has the ambition to attempt to match the achievements of Woods and Nicklaus, who have won 14 and 18 majors respectively.
"I've really found my passion again for golf. Not that it ever dwindled, but it's what I think about when I get up in the morning. It's what I think about when I go to bed.
"I just want to be the best golfer that I can be. And I know if I can do that, then trophies like this are within my capability. I'd love to win a lot more and am really looking forward to - even though there's still one major left this year that I want to desperately try and win - to next April and trying to complete the career grand slam.
"Golf is looking to someone to put their hand up and try to dominate and I want to be that person. I want be to be the guy that goes on and wins majors and wins majors regularly. I feel like there's a lot more left in me."
