CHARLOTTE, North Carolina – Having achieved the rare feat of a career Grand Slam, Rory McIlroy believes that he has accomplished everything in golf he ever dreamed of and will not be burdened by any number-specific goals going forward.

The five-time Major champion was a picture of contentment on May 14 while talking to reporters at Quail Hollow Club on the eve of the PGA Championship, knowing his golf bingo card is complete.

“I have achieved everything that I’ve wanted – I’ve done everything I’ve wanted to do in the game,” said the 36-year-old Northern Irishman. “I dreamed as a child of becoming the best player in the world and winning all the Majors. I’ve done that.

“Everything beyond this, for however long I decide to play the game competitively, is a bonus.”

McIlroy’s quest for an elusive Masters title had consumed him and become a tiring and burdensome decade-long narrative each year the Northern Irishman arrived at Augusta National for the year’s first major.

When his winning putt dropped on the first hole of a sudden-death play-off a month ago, a visibly moved and emotional McIlroy dropped to his knees and cried, releasing years of pent-up pressure and expectations.

“I feel like I sort of burdened myself with the career Grand Slam stuff, and I want to enjoy this,” said McIlroy.

“I want to enjoy what I’ve achieved, and I want to enjoy the last decade or whatever of my career, and I don’t want to burden myself by numbers or statistics. I just want to go and try to play the best golf I can.”

McIlroy was also asked about US Open champion Bryson DeChambeau expressing shock that the Northern Irishman, his playing partner for the Masters, never talked to him during the final round.

“I don’t know what he was expecting. We’re trying to win the Masters. I’m not going to try to be his best mate out there,” McIlroy said.

“I was focused on myself and what I needed to do. That’s really all that it was. It wasn’t anything against him.”

This year’s PGA Championship is being contested on a course where McIlroy has won four times, more than any other golfer.

But world No. 1 Scottie Scheffler and LIV Golf’s DeChambeau will try to keep the veteran from securing the second leg of the calendar-year Grand Slam. They arrive at the year’s second Major in solid form having both won their last starts.

After his...