The Northern Irish golfer completed the career Grand Slam with victory at Augusta in April but explained that he has hardly worn the iconic garment in the months since.

McIlroy told reporters: "I'm reluctant to wear it. It's not as if I wear it a lot. I have it hanging in my wardrobe in a place where I can see it every day. I always thought if I had one - if I did win the Masters one day - I'd never have the thing off, and it hasn't been that way. I haven't worn it as much as I thought I would."

The world number two is looking forward to visiting Augusta again as champion and will be more inclined to wear his Green Jacket on the famous course.

McIlroy explained: "I've always said some of my favourite times at Augusta were when it wasn't the Masters Tournament. But it'll be lovely to go there next time and go up to the champions locker room and put on my green jacket and feel like I belong."

Meanwhile, the five-time major champion plans to continue selecting his own tournament schedule - even if it means he is absent from some signature events.

He said: "I'll always look at the schedule at the start of the year and see what best fits me and my life, and everything else that I do with family or other opportunities that I'm pursuing outside of golf.

"This year that meant skipping a few signature events. [Next year] I might skip less, I might skip the same amount.

"The luxury of being a PGA Tour player is we're free to pick and choose our own schedule for the most part. I took advantage of that this year and I'll continue to take advantage of that for as long as I can."