Newly crowned Masters champion Rory McIlroy will return to action next week to defend his Zurich Classic of New Orleans title alongside Shane Lowry. The Northern Irishman has been at home following his historic victory at Augusta earlier this month,

Falling to his knees after Sunday’s final putt, McIlroy dropped his head as low as it could go. He pressed his forehead upon the 18th green, pulled up a few inches and unleashed a yell that reached from 2025 in Augusta to 2011 in Augusta. And from Pinehurst to Los Angeles to St Andrews. And from his house in Florida to his home in Northern Ireland.