Few could have imagined he would still be waiting, almost a decade later, for major number five, but even though he's had some near misses the desire to win remains there.
"I started thinking about winning this thing when I came here on Monday. I've already done that," added the 2011 US Open victor.
"No one wants me to win another major more than I do. The desire is obviously there."
McIlroy's last near miss came at St Andrews' Old Course in the 2022 Open Championship when he was beaten by a charging Cameron Smith - but he vowed to always keep coming back for more.
"I've been trying and I've come close over the past nine years," he said. "I feel like I've showed a lot of resilience in my career, a lot of ups and downs, and I keep coming back.
"And whether that means that I get rewarded or I get punched in the gut or whatever it is, I'll always keep coming back."
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