Rory McIlroy admits missing "pure joy" of no-pressure golf

World number one Rory McIlroy has revealed that he does not enjoy golf as much now as when he played without pressure or expectation.

The 25-year-old has been top of the world rankings for 35 weeks after winning back-to-back Majors last summer at The Open and US PGA Championship.

He is looking to compete a career grand slam at next weekend's Masters, but admits that it is nice to get away from the intense professional lifestyle.

"I would be dishonest if I said my love of golf now is as big as it was back [when I was young]," he told The Telegraph. "I still love the game, still love playing great courses and playing with my friends and my dad. I took a trip to Augusta after Doral with dad and it was just so good. But then I don't love golf as much as when it was just pure joy to get on to the course to play.

"When I was a kid, if I spent a day away from the game, I couldn't wait to get back. Now I can't wait for a week off. There's just not the, 'I can't wait to get out of the house as quick as I can to get to the course' feeling.

"Listen, this is not a job - let's face it, I've never done a day's work in my life. But it's an intense environment I play in and it's just nice to get away from it for a while. When I was a kid, I never, ever wanted to get away from it."

McIlroy is chasing a fifth Major and first at Augusta after he spectacularly threw away a four-shot lead in 2011. The closest he has come to winning the first Major of the year was 12 months ago when he finished in a tie for eighth place.