'Wouldn't be fulfilled' without winning Masters: McIlroy

World No.2 Rory McIlroy, who is preparing for a third attempt at completing a grand slam of major championships, has admitted he "wouldn't be fulfilled" without winning the Masters.

McIlroy, who has not won a major since August 2014, will relish the challenge of taking on the likes of world number one Dustin Johnson and former champion Jordan Spieth at Augusta National next week.

"I'd love to give you an answer and say my life is already fulfilled with everything that's happened and everything that's going to happen in the future, by starting a family and all that," the Guardian quoted McIlroy as saying.

"But if I didn't have a Green Jacket there would be a tiny piece that would just be missing. It really would be. I wouldn't be fulfilled if I didn't get it.

McIlroy's preparation has been hampered by a stress fracture of the ribs, but the world number two has finished no worse than seventh in his three strokeplay events in 2017.

The World No. 2 recalled an interview wherein he had said that he wants to be golfer in the world and wants to win all the majors.

"I said it in an interview when I was eight years old; I want to be the best golfer in the world and I want to win all the majors. I've nearly done all of that. There's one piece of the puzzle that's missing," he said.

The Northern Irishman will obviously begin the 81st Masters, as a live contender having claimed top-10 finishes on each of his last three visits to Augusta.