Rory McIlroy says he is destined to win the Masters – and may get married in New York at the end of the year.

The golf star has refused to confirm talk of a Manhattan wedding before Christmas, but he didn’t rule it out either.

Speaking ahead of the first round of the Masters on Thursday, McIlroy reacted to stories that he will wed tennis fiancée Caroline Wozniacki before the year is out.

He said, “I don’t know where they’ve got that from – ‘sources’, I suppose. Yes, it could be. We’ll see. It’s definitely nothing to do with me anyway! I just say ‘yes, how much?”

As he prepares for the Augusta challenge this week, McIlroy said he cannot envisage going through his career without a green jacket win at the Masters.

He told the Irish Independent, “I honestly can’t. I adore Augusta and the Masters.

“Every time I play my practice rounds, I finish on the 18th green and I’m like ‘is that it - can’t I play some more?’

“And the more you go back, the more comfortable you become. So I’d be upset if, at the end of my playing days, I wasn’t able to go up and have breakfast in the Champions’ Locker Room.”

So far 15th is the best McIlroy has managed at Augusta National, where he once blew a four shot lead on the final day.

He added, “The way I play golf, the way my game is, Augusta does set up well for me. So not to have a top 10 after five Masters isn’t good.

“In the last couple of years I’ve been in a great position going into the weekend and thrown in a bad nine holes here or there.

“I’ve been thinking to myself ‘two-under through three, get off to a good start.’ But sometimes when you’re pushing too hard, it goes the other way.”

“It’s one of those courses that if you are a little off, it magnifies.

“Right now I’m playing nicely and am comfortable with my game. I’ve been in contention, without getting the win. I’m waiting for that week where everything clicks.”