Rory McIlroy has declared a Masters ceasefire on his LIV Golf rivals as he focuses squarely on completing an elusive career grand slam at Augusta National.

McIlroy is making his ninth attempt at joining legends Gene Sarazen, Ben Hogan, Gary Player, Jack Nicklaus and Tiger Woods as only the sixth player to win all four men's major golf championships.

And the Northern Irishman says he's never felt better placed to add a green jacket to his 2011 US Open trophy, 2012 and 2014 US PGA titles and 2014 British Open triumph than now after "shedding some scar tissue" in last year's record-setting final round of 64.

That Sunday charge, featuring six birdies, an eagle and a wild celebration after holing out from the bunker at the last, vaulted McIlroy to runner-up behind Scottie Scheffler and has fuelled the world No.2's belief that he can finally get it done after a series of painful near misses.

"Not every experience is going to be a good experience. That would lead to a pretty boring life," McIlroy said ahead of Thursday's opening round.

"You have to learn from those challenges and learn from some of that scar tissue that's built up. I felt last year that I maybe shed some of that scar tissue and felt like I sort of made breakthroughs.

"I'm feeling as sort of relaxed as I ever have coming in here - I feel like my game is in a pretty good place. I know the place just as about as well as anyone."

With three wins, two seconds and eight top-four finishes from his last dozen starts worldwide, McIlroy seems primed to break through in 2023.

Even five-times champion Tiger Woods says it's inevitable that the Northern Irishman will get his hands on the green jacket, so well does his silky game suit Augusta.

"It's just a matter of time," Woods said on Tuesday. "Rory has the talent. He has the game. He has all the tools to win here. It's just a matter of time."

Not that McIlroy believes in destiny or that the golfing gods owe him anything. "They said the same thing about Ernie Els, Greg Norman," he said.

"There's been players before that that has been said; that this course is tailor-made for those players and they haven't went on to win a green jacket.

"That's always in my mind, too. It's not just because a place is deemed perfectly set up for your game, it doesn't automatically mean that you're going to win it one day. There's more to it than that.

"Look, it's a factor and it's nice to know that I come back to this place every year and that if I played the way I know that I can, that I should have a good chance.

"I don't need to do anything differently this week. I go out and play the way that I know that I can, get myself in with a chance to win and then those last couple hours on Sunday, it's about who can hold it together the best."

With that steely focus, McIlroy has no time or energy to waste on his ongoing war with his LIV rivals.The world No.2 even planned nine holes on Tuesday with Brooks Koepka, who showcased his credentials on Sunday with victory at the LIV International Orlando in Florida.

"This week and this tournament is way bigger than any of that, I feel, and it's just great that all of the best players in the world are together again for the first time in what seems to be quite a while," McIlroy said.

"It's a very nuanced situation and there's different dynamics. It's okay to get on with Brooks and DJ (Dustin Johnson) and maybe not get on with some other guys that went to LIV, right?

"It's interpersonal relationships, that's just how it goes. The more face time you get with some people, the more comfortable you become in some way."

He even welcomed Phil Mickelson back into the fold after the American sat out last year's Masters following controversial remarks made about the Saudi-backed breakaway league he joined for a reported $US200 million.

"I have not spoken to Phil, but it's great to see him back," McIlroy said.

"He's a three-time champion here. We're not even two years removed from him doing what I believe is one of the greatest feats in the game of golf, winning the PGA Championship at 51 years of age or whatever it was.

"It's good to have him back."