Rory McIlroy can't help but take cheeky Man Utd swipe after Masters win

Rory McIlroy is ready to take his new Green Jacket from Augusta to Old Trafford to “inspire” his Manchester United. The Ulsterman completed his career Grand Slam by winning the Masters on the same day his Premier League team were thrashed at Newcastle to stay 14th in the Premier League.

McIlroy paraded the Claret Jug at Old Trafford following his Open win in 2014 to follow fellow Irishman Ken Doherty who took the World Snooker Championships trophy there in 1997. Asked if he will take his Green Jacket to the home of Manchester United, the new Masters champion said: “If it can inspire some better play, absolutely.”

McIlroy is also planning a trip back to Northern Ireland to share his fifth Major triumph with his parents Gerry and Rosie. “I'll stay here tonight,” he said. “I'll probably head home to Florida tomorrow. I'd really love to see my mum and dad. They are back in Northern Ireland. So maybe a trip back home at some point next week.”

McIlroy also completed his career Grand Slam to join legends Gene Sarazen, Ben Hogan, Jack Nicklaus, Gary Player and Tiger Woods in winning all four Majors.

In his champion’s press conference, the world No.2 spoke openly about the weight of expectation he has carried since his last Major win at the 2014 US Open after he broke down in tears after his win. And McIlroy admitted: “It was all relief. There wasn't much joy in that reaction. It was all relief.

"The joy came pretty soon after that. But I've been coming here 17 years, and it was a decade-plus of emotion that came out of me there. At least 11 years, if not 14 years of pent-up emotion. It's very difficult. I think I've carried that burden since August 2014. It's nearly 11 years.

“And not just about winning my next major, but the career Grand Slam. Trying to join a group of five players to do it, you know, watching a lot of my peers get green jackets in the process.

“It's been difficult, and I've tried to approach this tournament with the most positive attitude each and every time that I've shown up, and I think just the sort of cumulative experience that I've gained coming back here each and every year, I just I feel like I get a little more comfortable with the shot needed.

I talked about it at the start of the week, but you know, there's talking about it and actually doing it.

“And today was difficult. I was unbelievably nervous this morning. Really nervous on the first hole, as you witnessed with the double, but that sort of calmed me down and I was able to bounce back and show that resilience that I've talked about a lot.

“Yeah, look, it was a heavy weight to carry, and thankfully now I don't have to carry it and it frees me up and I know I'm coming back here every year, which is lovely.”