The world No.2 has firmed as the sentimental favourite at this year's Masters, the only one of golf's four majors the Irishman hasn't won.
It's been a decade between drinks for the man who had four majors by the age of 25, McIlroy 0-for-38 in major starts since winning his second PGA Championship in 2014.
He's finished second once at the Masters, with six other top-10 results.
In 2011 McIlroy carried a four-shot lead into the final round and shot 80 to tie for 15th.
The 2022 British Open and last year's US Open at Pinehurst are also sore points, despite a 26-title haul on all the PGA and DP World Tours since his last major triumph.
He reckons he's at peace with it though, since drawing a line in the sand in 2019.
"It's a self-preservation mechanism," McIlroy explained of his previous mindset.
"At a certain point in someone's life, someone doesn't want to fall in love because they don't want to get their heart broken.
"We hold back sometimes because of the fear of getting hurt, whether that's a conscious decision or subconscious decision, and I think I was doing that on the golf course a little bit for a few years.
"Once you go through those heartbreaks, the last few years I've had chances to win some of the biggest golf tournaments in the world and it hasn't quite happened.
"But life moves on. You dust yourself off and you go again.
"I think that's why I've become a little more comfortable in laying everything out there and being somewhat vulnerable."
McIlroy is trying to cancel out the noise ahead of Thursday's start, victories at Pebble Beach and The Players Championship his best pre-Masters run and another reason for hype to build.
Victory would complete a career grand slam, golf's first since Tiger Woods secured his in 2000.
"I understand the narrative and the noise, and there's a lot of anticipation and build-up coming into this tournament every year, but I have to keep my head down and focus on my job," McIlroy said.
World No.1 Scottie Scheffler stands in his way, the defending champion preparing his Champions Dinner, which is this year underscored by his wry sense of humour.
His menu for Tuesday night includes ravioli, the same thing he was making in December when he shredded his hand on a shard of glass.
"If I was trying to take out the competition ... I would definitely do a demonstration, something along those lines," he grinned.
"But yeah, hopefully avoid the injuries. Maybe they'll cut up my steak for me so I won't have to use a knife."
Scheffler won seven times on the PGA Tour last year and added an Olympic gold.
He's yet to win this year since recovering from his hand injury, but still has three top-10 finishes, including a tie for second at the Houston Open, where he finished one back of Australia's Min Woo Lee.
With AP
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