Rory McIlroy has conquered the elusive Masters title in 2025, marking the completion of his career Grand Slam and ending years of speculation about his ability to secure the prestigious Green Jacket.

Having shrugged off the heavy mantle of expectation, McIlroy's recent remarks exhibit a golfer full of self-assurance-a sentiment that could well unsettle competitors on the PGA Tour as well as LIV Golf.

Speaking with the Irish Times, when queried about his future ambitions after triumphing at not only Augusta but also the Players Championship and Pebble Beach, McIlroy responded with subtle confidence: "If I can produce the shots I needed to over the last few holes at Augusta, feeling as I was feeling then I am pretty capable of doing anything in this game," he articulated. This statement stands in contrast to past pronouncements of explicit targets, instead suggesting a serene assurance in his gameplay.

At age 35, McIlroy's approach seems to have matured from chasing distinct achievements to a striving for sustained excellence. "I don't think I need to [set goals]," he remarked.

"What's next is just, how do I keep playing this way? If I keep playing the way I am, anything is possible."

McIlroy's recent comments signal a clear sense of liberation following his momentous win at Augusta that exorcised past demons. "Getting the Masters, the career Grand Slam, the fifth major, getting all that out of the way. I think it will allow me to play with a lot more freedom," McIlroy conveyed to the BBC earlier this month.

"I really do think it's going to free me up. It's been a long time coming."

This surge in self-belief coincides with his peers making some bold and ambitious forecasts regarding his future in the game. Trevor Heaven, the captain of Holywood Golf Club where McIlroy began his journey, believes the Masters triumph has unshackled Rory and boldly suggests he could clinch as many as 10 major titles.

"I think [McIlroy] has a free run over the next couple of years," Heaven revealed to CNN Sport. "He's so talented that when he turns up to all the tournaments he's the favourite."

The victory at the Masters marks McIlroy's first major win in 11 years and the fifth in his trophy cabinet, putting him halfway to an exclusive club of players with double-digit major wins, a club that only includes three members so far.

Bob Rotella, McIlroy's sports psychologist, shares Heaven's positive outlook, forecasting that Rory is poised to "win quite a few more" majors now that the pressure of completing the Grand Slam is behind him. Furthermore, Graeme McDowell, former US Open champion and current LIV Golf participant, believes his fellow countryman could potentially double his major count.

According to Clarke, some golfers may plateau after a major victory, while others may leverage the momentum to achieve even greater success. "Some people can be just like 'that's it' and maybe not do a lot more in their career," he told the BBC.

"Others people can kick on and the world is their oyster and he could go on to win four, five, six more majors from here."

Padraig Harrington took Clarke's prediction a step further, speculating that McIlroy may even surpass the major title records of golf legends Tiger Woods and Jack Nicklaus. "The Masters was distinctly different to every other tournament for Rory. Now he's over that," Harrington said during an interview on The Golf Channel.

At his press conference, McIlroy jokingly asked what the media would focus on next year. Harrington proposed that future discussions might centre around McIlroy's potential to win the calendar Grand Slam, break Nick Faldo's six-major record, or achieve 10 major titles.

He also raised the possibility that McIlroy may eventually match or exceed the 15 majors won by Woods, and even the 18 majors held by Nicklaus. "And guess what? We're going to talk about whether he can get to 15 majors and then we're going to talk about whether he can get to 18 majors," Harrington said.

In Harrington's opinion, McIlroy's game has a unique advantage: it is future-proofed. McIlroy is unlikely to be held back by injuries, and his power ensures that he will be able to compete even as younger players develop their skills.

Harrington stressed that McIlroy's abilities will not be diminished by the rising stars of golf hitting the ball further, concluding, "The beauty for Rory is that his game is future-proofed. He's not a guy who gets injured and he's extremely powerful, so it doesn't matter if all these kids coming out of college hit it for miles. That doesn't matter to Rory. Nobody is going to have an advantage over him."

These bold assertions indicate that McIlroy's contemporaries view him as a rejuvenated force. Liberated at last from the immense burden of anticipation, Rory can now stretch his remarkable skills to their utmost potential.

If he sustains this performance level, as he is confident he can, those 'frightening' forecasts may not appear so outlandish.

For the time being, the golfing fraternity waits in eager anticipation, aware that Rory McIlroy has the capacity to achieve the extraordinary.