Rory McIlroy planning to stay the course despite not realizing Masters dream

McIlroy carded a closing 73 at Augusta National to finish four over par, just as the final groups were heading into the back nine.

The world number two was captured expressing his frustration with his game in the documentary series Full Swing, admitting after the US PGA Championship he almost felt like "I want to do a complete reboot".

But asked at Augusta National how he would determine whether the time had come to do that, McIlroy said: "It's probably not the right time to be analytical at the moment, but I think as well if you're really going to make wholesale changes it's hard to play a lot of golf and make them at the same time.

"I don't feel like I need to make wholesale changes. That's why I'm playing a lot.

"But if the time comes that I need to make wholesale changes with my golf swing and really try to reassess, it could be a six-month-to-a-year process.

"Not saying I wouldn't play any tournaments in that time, but the focus would be on the sort of technical side of things and really not result-driven at all.

"I don't think I'm there yet, but there may come a time where I need to address that and really go back to the drawing board. But I think right now it's little tweaks here and there and managing my game.

"I really feel like I can sort of play my way into form here over these next few weeks."

McIlroy carded an opening 71 at Augusta National, but was blown away in Friday's strong winds and struggled to a 77 which effectively ended his chances.

"Just sort of felt like my game was OK and managed it pretty well, but obviously Friday was a really tough day, and losing five shots sort of put me in a pretty difficult position going into the weekend," he said.

"Then the conditions were pretty tough. The greens are crusty and firm and hard to get the ball super close and hard to make a ton of birdies.

"Once you get seven or eight back going into the weekend here, it's hard to make up that ground."