Rory McIlroy is heading into this week's US PGA Championship with a relaxed confidence that's a world away from the tense, media-shy figure we saw at last year's tournament. The six-time major winner is even taking a bizarre injury in stride—literally.

After softening a sore toenail in the shower, McIlroy simply "ripped it off," he laughed, proudly showing off the plaster-protected little toe on his right foot. The impromptu surgery means he'll go up half a shoe size for his rounds at Aronimink Golf Club near Philadelphia, where the second men's major of the season tees off Thursday.

That easygoing attitude marks a complete turnaround from last year's PGA Championship, when McIlroy was still nursing a career hangover after his dramatic playoff win over Justin Rose at Augusta National. Uncertain what came next after completing the career Grand Slam, he kept a low profile.

Now, fresh off becoming just the fourth player to win back-to-back Masters titles—joining legends Jack Nicklaus, Nick Faldo, and Tiger Woods—McIlroy has found his joy again. "Major championship wins don't come along that often," he told BBC Sport. "A little more often for me in the past couple years than the previous decade, so yeah, I wanted to enjoy it."

That celebration included attending King Charles' state banquet in Washington DC, an honor that prompted him to skip the PGA Tour's signature event at Doral. He also flew in his lifelong coach Michael Bannon to Florida for extra practice sessions. "The further I get on in my career, the more I start to realize how special these moments are," McIlroy added. "It was really nice to spend time at home with Erica and Poppy and my parents."

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