Mcllroy is driving away fear of failure

RORY MCILROY no longer fears having his heart broken at the Masters.

- By Neil McLeman at Augusta

The world No.2 has had an unrequited love affair with Augusta National since losing a four-shot lead here in 2011.

After winning The Players Championship last month, the 35-year-old Northern Irishman said: "You have to be willing to get your heart broken", and admitted he spent years fearing failure.

And yesterday, speaking before his 17th Masters appearance - and his 11th attempt to complete the career Grand Slam - Mcllroy, below, revealed he was ready to be "vulnerable" in pursuit of history.

"I think it was a self-preservation mechanism," he said.