Rory McIlroy believes the Masters being staged in November will finally help him win a Green Jacket and complete his career Grand Slam.
The World No.1 has failed to win in his 11 previous April visits to Augusta, including blowing a four-shot lead in the final round in 2011.
And since winning the 2014 Open, McIlroy has had the added pressure of seeking the only Major title he has yet to win.
None of the previous five players to complete the career Grand Slam have needed more than three attempts to land the final leg.
Now 30, McIlroy would have been favourite to win the Masters last week after a solid start to the season saw him return to the top of the rankings for the first time for five years.
But the four-time Major champion said: “I feel like there’s anticipation going to Augusta, the first big event of the year. There’s all this hype.
“I don’t think it’ll feel like that this year. I think it’ll feel a little bit different, which I’m looking forward to.
“It’s going to be a different Masters, and personally, selfishly, maybe that’s what I need to get the jacket.”
The Masters has now intended dates of November 12-15 at the end of a busy finale to the golfing year with the Tour Championships, the US Open and the Ryder Cup all in September.
As well as removing the usual long lead-up time to Augusta, McIlroy also plays better in the second half of the year with nine of his 18 career PGA Tour victories coming in August or later.
He has three career wins in November, including his last victory at the WGC-HSBC Champions last year.
Six-time Masters champion Jack Nicklaus said. “He seems to play better in the fall. As you know, he’s won the Tour Championship a couple times. Played in Atlanta, very similar conditions. I think this scheduling will be to Rory’s favour.”
McIlroy, speaking on Nike Golf’s Instagram Live feed, added: “November is going to be different. It’s going to be cold. The course can play very long. It plays long already, but it could play very long.
“The greens might not be as fast as they usually are in April, depending on the moisture. It’s the back end of the year as two of the majors have already been played — hopefully, the Ryder Cup’s already been played. People might be in their routines and in their flow a little bit.”
The PGA Tour will meet with the player’s advisory council today to discuss plans to re-start the golf season.
A memo sent to players stated play could restart “with or without fans” and that players would be given at least three weeks notice to prepare for the first event back.
The next scheduled event is the Charles Schwab Challenge from May 21-24 at The Colonial in Fort Worth, Texas, but this is expected to be cancelled.
