Rory Daniel McIlroy (born 4 May 1989) is a Northern Irishprofessional golfer who plays on theEuropean Tour and thePGA Tour. He is a formerworld number one in theOfficial World Golf Ranking and has spent over 100 weeks in that position during his career. A five-timemajor champion, he is the sixth man to achieve a moderncareer grand slam afterGene Sarazen,Ben Hogan,Gary Player,Jack Nicklaus andTiger Woods. He is the first European to achieve the feat.
McIlroy had a successful amateur career, reaching number one on theWorld Amateur Golf Ranking as a 17-year-old in 2007. Later that year, he turned professional and soon established himself on the European Tour. He achieved his first win on the European Tour in 2009 and on the PGA Tour in 2010. McIlroy won his first major championship at the2011 U.S. Open. By age 25, he had won three more: the2012 and2014 PGA Championship, and2014 Open Championship. In 2022, he became the first person to win theFedEx Cup three times, surpassingTiger Woods' two. McIlroy wonThe Players Championship in 2019 and 2025. After a 10-year drought in the majors, he won the2025 Masters Tournament to complete the career grand slam.
McIlroy has represented Europe, Ireland, and Great Britain & Ireland as both an amateur and a professional. He has played for Europe at theRyder Cup in every edition from 2010 to 2025, with Europe winning in2010,2012,2014,2018,2023, and2025. For his achievements, he has twice been namedRTÉ Sports Person of the Year, in 2011 and 2014.
Mcllroy was born on 4 May 1989 inHolywood, County Down, Northern Ireland.[5] His mother, Rosaleen "Rosie" McDonald, was originally fromLurgan, County Armagh, while his father, Gerry McIlroy, was from Holywood.[6] His parents met while Rosie worked as a waitress at a bar Gerry managed inBelfast and they married at St Colmcille's Church in Holywood in January 1988, both aged 27.[7] McIlroy was an only child and the family lived in a modest,semi-detached house in Holywood.[6] He attended St Patrick's, a Catholic primary school, until he passed hiseleven-plus and gained entry toSullivan Upper School, amixed grammar school.[6][8][9]
McIlroy was introduced to golf at a young age by his father and received a set of plastic clubs when he was two years old. His father was a golfer himself, who once played at ascratch handicap level.[6] On his mother's side, McIlroy's uncle Mickey McDonald was a talented athlete: he playedGaelic football forArmagh GAA, winning theUlster Senior Football Championship in 1982, andassociation football forGlenavon F.C. andCliftonville F.C..[10][11]
McIlroy regularly asked his father to take him to the nearby Holywood Golf Club, where he gained attention by hitting 40-yard (37 m) drives at age three. He practicedchipping at home by hitting balls into the family's washing machine, studied a golf technique video byNick Faldo and often went to sleep holding a golf club to developmuscle memory of the interlocking grip. At age seven, McIlroy became Holywood Golf Club's youngest-ever member and dreamed of becoming a professional golfer.[12] He was a self-described "anorak" ofTiger Woods as a child, stating "I was only eight but I watched every hole" of Woods' victory at the1997 Masters Tournament.[13] McIlroy received early tutelage from coachMichael Bannon at Holywood Golf Club.[6]
To fund his golfing ambitions, McIlroy's parents took on extra jobs.[6] Gerry worked 100 hours a week; he cleaned toilets and showers at a local sports club in the mornings, served as a bartender at Holywood Golf Club from 12 to 6 pm, then returned to the sports club to work behind the bar in the evenings. Rosie looked after Rory during the day and worked night shifts packaging rolls of tape at a3M factory inBangor, County Down.[7][14][15] Due to their conflicting schedules, McIlroy's parents rarely saw each other during this period.[6] Gerry later said: "I had no idea what else to do. I'm a working-class man. We wanted to give our only child a chance."[16] After finding success as a professional golfer, McIlroy bought his parents a house in 2009, stating: "I'll never be able to repay Mum and Dad for what they did, but at least they know they'll never have to work another day. I'll do whatever it takes to look after them."[6]
Aged nine, McIlroy had his first significant international amateur tournament victory, at the U10 World Championship held atDoral Golf Resort & Spa inMiami, Florida.[17] After this win, he was invited by broadcasterGerry Kelly to appear on the television showKelly, where he demonstrated his technique of chipping a golf ball into a washing machine for the audience.[6][18] In a 1998 interview withBBC Sport, McIlroy said his ambition was to win all fourmajor championship titles.[19] He became a scratch handicap at age 12,[20] and began to receive mentorship from professional golferDarren Clarke.[21] McIlroy decided to leave school in 2005 in order to concentrate on golf.[22]
McIlroy won the Ulster Boys' U15 Championship in 2002 and the Ulster Boys' U18 Championship in 2003.[23] At the age of 15, he was a member of the Irish team at the 2004European Boys' Team Championship in Finland and the European team which won the 2004Junior Ryder Cup against the United States on foreign soil inOhio.[24][25][26][27]
In 2005, McIlroy became the youngest-ever winner of both the West of Ireland Championship and the Irish Close Championship.[28][29] He had signed aletter of intent in late 2004 to play collegiate golf atEast Tennessee State University, but after his wins in 2005, he decided to forgo the golf scholarship and continue to play amateur golf in Europe.[30]
At age 16, McIlroy made hisEuropean Tour debut in May 2005 at theDaily Telegraph Dunlop Masters.[31] Two months later, he shot a 61 at the Dunluce Links ofRoyal Portrush Golf Club, breaking the competitive course record.[32] McIlroy representedIreland at the2005 European Amateur Team Championship. However, Ireland did not advance to the match-play portion.[33] Two years later, he competed for Ireland again at the2007 European Amateur Team Championship, this time with future Open championShane Lowry as one of his teammates. McIlroy was the individual leader in the stroke-play portion and Ireland ultimately defeated France in the final to claim victory. This was Ireland's first title in the championship since1987.[34]
In August 2006, McIlroy won theEuropean Amateur at Biella Golf Club, nearMilan, Italy, which earned him an exemption toThe Open Championship the following year.[35] Also in 2006, he represented Europe against the Asia/Pacific team at theBonallack Trophy inNew Zealand,[36] represented Ireland in theEisenhower Trophy,[37] and retained both his West of Ireland and Irish Close titles.[38]
McIlroy made his first cut in a professional tournament in February 2007, as a 17-year-old at the European Tour'sDubai Desert Classic. He had to forego prize money of over €7,000 due to his amateur status.[39] Following his performance in Dubai, McIlroy rose to number one in theWorld Amateur Golf Ranking.[38][40] In March, he won theGrey Goose Cup inSotogrande, Spain, defeatingMarius Thorp in a playoff.[41]
In hismajor championship debut, at the2007 Open Championship held atCarnoustie Golf Links in July, McIlroy shot a bogey-free opening round of 3-under-par 68. He ended the tournament in tied-42nd place, ranking as the low amateur and winning thesilver medal.[42] McIlroy chose to end his amateur career at the2007 Walker Cup in September, where he represented the Great Britain & Ireland team at theRoyal County Down Golf Club.[43] McIlroy's overall record was1–2–1, including a win in his Sunday singles match againstBilly Horschel, as the United States emerged victorious over Great Britain & Ireland by a score of12.5–11.5.[44]
McIlroy turned professional on 18 September 2007 and signed withInternational Sports Management. He made his first professional start the following day at theQuinn Direct British Masters,[45] where he finished in a tie for 42nd place.[46] In his next start, he finished third at theAlfred Dunhill Links Championship. He secured his European Tour card for 2008 the following week by finishing in a tie for 4th place at theOpen de Madrid Valle Romano.[47] Aged 18, he became the youngest affiliate member in the history of the European Tour to earn a tour card.[48] On the 2007 European Tour season, he earned €277,255 and finished in 95th place on the Order of Merit list.[49]
McIlroy entered the top 200 of theOfficial World Golf Ranking (OWGR) for the first time on 27 January 2008.[50] On 7 September 2008, McIlroy took a four-stroke lead into the final round of theOmega European Masters inCrans-sur-Sierre, Switzerland, but finished in a tie for first place with FrenchmanJean-François Lucquin and lost in a play-off.[51] McIlroy finished the2008 European Tour season with six top-10 placements and ranked 79th in the OWGR.[52] After finishing second in theUBS Hong Kong Open in November 2008,[53] McIlroy moved into the top 50 of the OWGR.[54] He ended the calendar year at 39th;[55] this earned him an invitation to the2009 Masters Tournament.
McIlroy's first professional win came at age 19 when he won theDubai Desert Classic on 1 February 2009, which took him to 16th in the OWGR.[56] At the2009 WGC-Accenture Match Play Championship in March, McIlroy reached the quarterfinals, where he lost to eventual championGeoff Ogilvy.[57] In April, McIlroy made his Masters debut, which was his first major championship as a professional. He finished the tournament tied for 20th place. Of the players to make the cut, he ranked third in average driving distance, beaten only byDustin Johnson andAndrés Romero.[58]
McIlroy then returned to Europe, finishing fifth at theBMW PGA Championship and 12th at theEuropean Open in May.[59] He played in his second major as a professional at the2009 U.S. Open, where he shot a final-round 68 to finish in a tie for 10th.[59] In July, McIlroy played in the2009 Open Championship, his first Open as a professional, and finished T-47.[60] The following month, he tied for 3rd on debut at the2009 PGA Championship.[60] McIlroy finished the 2009 season ranked second on theRace to Dubai, behindLee Westwood, and in November he entered the top 10 of the world rankings for the first time.[61][62] McIlroy subsequently announced that he would join the American-basedPGA Tour for the 2010 season.[63] He ended 2009 by representing Ireland at the2009 World Cup, alongsideGraeme McDowell. They opened with a 14-under 58 in the first-roundfourballs,[64] and held a three-shot lead after the third round, but a final-round 70 resulted in a tie for 2nd.[65]
McIlroy started the year by finishing third at the 2010Abu Dhabi Golf Championship in January. As the defending champion at theDubai Desert Classic, he shot a final-round 73 to tie for fifth place.[66] On 2 May, McIlroy shot a course-record 62 in the final round of theQuail Hollow Championship to beatPhil Mickelson by four strokes and record his first PGA Tour win.[67] The win came two days before McIlroy's 21st birthday, making him the first player sinceTiger Woods to win a PGA Tour event prior to that age.[68] The win earned him a two-year exemption on the PGA Tour.[69]
At the2010 Open Championship, held at theOld Course at St Andrews in July, McIlroy tied the course record with a 9-under-par 63 on the opening day.[70] He ended the tournament tied for third.[71][72] In August, McIlroy finished in third-place at the2010 PGA Championship, one shot outside of a playoff betweenBubba Watson and eventual winnerMartin Kaymer.[47]
As an automatic qualifier, McIlroy was selected to represented Europe at the2010 Ryder Cup. He tied his Sunday singles match againstStewart Cink, helping Europe to regain the cup by a score of14.5–13.5.[49] Following the Ryder Cup, he announced in November that he would return to play full-time on the European Tour, although adding that he would continue to play a limited schedule on the PGA Tour.[73] McIlroy stated in 2012 that he regretted this 2010 decision to give up his PGA Tour card and skip the2011 Players Championship. McIlroy's managerChubby Chandler's aversion to the PGA Tour was cited by McIlroy as one of the main reasons for their later professional split.[74]
In his first start of the year, McIlroy finished runner-up at theAbu Dhabi HSBC Golf Championship in January, eight strokes behindMartin Kaymer.[75] In April, McIlroy shot a bogey-free 65 in the first round of the2011 Masters Tournament to lead the field.[76] This made him the youngest player at the time ever to hold the first-round lead at the Masters.[77] He then shot rounds of 69 and 70, giving him a four-stroke lead after 54 holes. In the final round, McIlroy shot an 8-over-par 80, including a triple bogey on the 10th and double bogey on the 12th hole. He ultimately finished in a tie for 15th, 10 strokes behind winnerCharl Schwartzel.[60]
In his next major start, at the2011 U.S. Open held atCongressional Country Club in June, McIlroy again shot a bogey-free 65 to take the first-round lead. He shot 66 in the second round to set a record for the lowest 36-hole total in U.S. Open history (131, −11).[78][79] He posted 68 in third round, to also set the 54-hole scoring record at 199 (−14).[80] In doing so, he built an eight-stroke lead going into the final round. McIlroy shot a final round of 69 to earn his first major championship title, eight strokes ahead of runner-upJason Day.[81] McIlroy's 72-hole aggregate score of 268 (−16) was a new U.S. Open record, breaking the previous record of 272 jointly held byJack Nicklaus (1980),Lee Janzen (1993),Tiger Woods (2000) andJim Furyk (2003).[82] The 16-under in relation to par beat Tiger Woods' 12-under atPebble Beach Golf Links in 2000.[83][84][85] At age 22, McIlroy also became the youngest winner sinceBobby Jones in1923 U.S. Open, and the victory lifted him to a new career-high fourth in the OWGR.[86]
At the2011 Open Championship in July, he struggled in the tough weather conditions and finished in tied-25th place.[87] He was also a non-factor at the2011 PGA Championship, where he injured his wrist in the first round after attempting to play a stroke from behind a tree root.[88] In October, McIlroy won theLake Malaren Shanghai Masters in a playoff againstAnthony Kim, earning the $2 million first-place prize, the highest in golf at that time.[89][90] In December, he won theUBS Hong Kong Open by two strokes.[91]
In January, McIlroy finished solo-second at theAbu Dhabi HSBC Golf Championship, one stroke behind winnerRobert Rock. At the2012 WGC-Accenture Match Play Championship in February, he recorded another runner-up finish, losing toHunter Mahan, 2 and 1, in the final. The following week, McIlroy won theHonda Classic, where he shot a final round of 69 to finish two strokes ahead ofTiger Woods andTom Gillis.[92] With this victory, McIlroy reached thenumber one position in theOfficial World Golf Ranking for the first time in his career. Aged 22, he became the second-youngest man to reach number one, behind Woods who achieved the feat at 21.[93]
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At the2012 Masters Tournament in April, McIlroy was in third place after two rounds, one stroke behind the leaders, but struggled on the weekend with rounds of 77 and 76 and finished in a tie for 40th. In May, he was in contention at theWells Fargo Championship and went to a playoff withRickie Fowler andD. A. Points. Fowler won the tournament on the first playoff hole with a birdie.[94]
In August, McIlroy won the2012 PGA Championship at theKiawah Island Ocean Course. Hebirdied the final hole to shoot 66 and win by eight strokes, a new record for the largest margin-of-victory at the PGA Championship.[95][96][97] The prior record had stood sinceJack Nicklaus won the1980 PGA Championship by seven strokes.[95][96][97] At age 23, McIlroy became the youngest multiple major champion sinceSeve Ballesteros won the1980 Masters Tournament.
At theDeutsche Bank Championship in September, McIlroy overcame a three-shot deficit headed into the final round to defeatLouis Oosthuizen by one stroke.[98] The following week. McIlroy won theBMW Championship, two strokes ahead ofPhil Mickelson andLee Westwood.[99] He totalled 40-under par across the two tournament victories.[100] With these wins, he became the first European to win four PGA Tour events in a single season and the only person other thanTiger Woods to win four events in a season since 2005.
McIlroy topped the qualification standings for the2012 Ryder Cup, which was held atMedinah Country Club at the end of September.[101] He picked up three points for the European team.[101] On the final day, a mix up with his tee time meant that he arrived only 12 minutes before he was due to tee off in his Sunday singles match againstKeegan Bradley, after being escorted in by a police officer. He defeated Bradley, 2 and 1, to help Europe record a comeback win by a score of14.5–13.5, in what became known as the "Miracle at Medinah".[102] To finish off his season, he won theDP World Tour Championship, Dubai in November, making birdie on the last five holes to beatJustin Rose by two strokes.[103]
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McIlroy struggled with an equipment change at the beginning of 2013, having signed a lucrative endorsement deal withNike in January. He missed the cut at theAbu Dhabi HSBC Golf Championship in January and withdrew from the Honda Classic as the defending champion in February. In April, he finished runner-up at theValero Texas Open, two strokes behindMartin Laird, and at the2013 Masters Tournament the following week, he tied for 25th place. McIlroy tied for 41st place at the2013 U.S. Open, missed the cut at the2013 Open Championship and tied for 8th place as defending champion at the2013 PGA Championship.[104]
As a result of his downturn in form, he dropped from first to sixth in the OWGR.[105] McIlroy recorded his first win of the year in December, at the 2013Emirates Australian Open. He birdied the final hole to beat AustralianAdam Scott by one stroke.[106]
In January, McIlroy finished runner-up again in theAbu Dhabi HSBC Golf Championship. He was assessed a two-shot penalty for taking an improper drop from a spectator pathway in the third round and ultimately finished one stroke behind the winnerPablo Larrazábal. He said afterwards: "There are many stupid rules in golf and this is one of them."[107]
In March, McIlroy lost in a playoff at theHonda Classic on the PGA Tour. He held a two-shot lead entering the final round, but shot 74 (+4) and lost on the first extra hole, whenRussell Henley made birdie.[108] In May, McIlroy shot a final-round 66 to overcome a seven-shot deficit and win the2014 BMW PGA Championship by one stroke overThomas Bjørn. The win was McIlroy's first on either of the two major tours in 18 months.[109]
At the2014 Open Championship held atRoyal Liverpool Golf Club in July,[110] McIlroy ledwire-to-wire and won by two strokes overRickie Fowler andSergio García to claim the first Open Championship and third major championship of his career.[111] The victory put McIlroy alongsideTiger Woods as the only golfers to win both theSilver Medal and theClaret Jug at the Open Championship.[112]
In his next start, McIlroy won the2014 WGC-Bridgestone Invitational, shooting a final-round 66 to beatSergio García by two strokes. The following week, McIlroy edged out runner-upPhil Mickelson by one shot to collect his fourth major championship victory with a win at the2014 PGA Championship atValhalla Golf Club inLouisville, Kentucky.[113] In doing so, he joinedJack Nicklaus andTiger Woods as the only three players to win four majors by age 25.[112] After the victory, 18-time major champion Nicklaus said: "Rory is an unbelievable talent. I think Rory has an opportunity to win 15 or 20 majors or whatever he wants to do if he wants to keep playing. I love his swing."[114]
At the2014 Ryder Cup in September, McIlroy played in all five sessions. He finished with a record of2–1–2, including a win in his Sunday singles match againstRickie Fowler, as Europe won by a score of16.5–11.5.[115][116]
In January, McIlroy finished runner-up for the fourth time of his career at theAbu Dhabi Golf Championship, one stroke behindGary Stal. In his second tournament of the year, he won the European Tour'sOmega Dubai Desert Classic for a second time. At 22-under-par, he matched the tournament's scoring record set byStephen Gallacher andThomas Bjørn.[117] He missed the cut in his first start of the PGA Tour season at theHonda Classic. It was his first missed cut on the PGA Tour since the 2013 Open Championship, a streak of 22 consecutive events.[118]
At the2015 Masters Tournament in April, McIlroy finished in solo-fourth place, a new-best career Masters finish.[119] In May, he won the2015 WGC-Cadillac Match Play event held atTPC Harding Park in San Francisco, defeatingGary Woodland in the final.[120] This was his secondWorld Golf Championship and his tenth PGA tour title.[121] Later in May, while playing in theWells Fargo Championship, McIlroy shot a course-record 61 atQuail Hollow Club inCharlotte, North Carolina.[122] He went on to win the championship for a second time, by seven strokes with a tournament record score of 21-under 267.[123]
A week prior to the2015 Open Championship in July, McIlroy ruptured his leftanterior talofibular ligament while playing soccer. This led to him withdrawing from the Open Championship and the subsequent2015 WGC-Bridgestone Invitational, both tournaments where he was the defending champion.[124] He made his return at the2015 PGA Championship, where he made the cut and finished in 17th place.[125]
Entering theDP World Tour Championship, Dubai, McIlroy was leading theRace to Dubai standings.[126] He posted a score of 21-under to win the tournament by one stroke fromAndy Sullivan. This was his second victory in the lucrative year-end tournament and his third Race to Dubai title in four years.[127]
Chasing his first win of the year, McIlroy took a three-shot lead into the final round of the2016 WGC-Cadillac Championship atTrump National Doral in March, but faltered with a two-over-par 74 to finish two shots behind winnerAdam Scott.[128] At the2016 Masters Tournament, McIlroy was in the final group in the third round alongsideJordan Spieth but shot a five-over 77 and ultimately finished tied-10th. Afterwards, he said he was affected at the Masters by the pressure of trying to complete theGrand Slam.[129]
In May, McIlroy claimed his first victory of the year at his homeIrish Open, a tournament hosted by the Rory Foundation. He finished three strokes clear ofRussell Knox andBradley Dredge and subsequently donated the €666,000 winner's cheque to charity.[130] McIlroy had qualified to represent Ireland inthe golf tournament at the2016 Summer Olympics in August, but withdrew due to the threat of theZika virus in Brazil and stated he would not watch the tournament.[131] Following the tournament, McIlroy admitted he had been surprised at the event's success and said he had been wrong to dismiss the tournament.[132] He later outlined his intention to compete at the2020 Olympic Games.[133]
In September, McIlroy won theDeutsche Bank Championship inNorton, Massachusetts. He produced a final-round 65 to finish two shots clear ofPaul Casey.[134] Two weeks later, at the 2016Tour Championship, McIlroy overcame a two-shot deficit after the third round to force a playoff withRyan Moore andKevin Chappell, winning the competition with a birdie at the fourth playoff hole. The result earned McIlroy his firstFedEx Cup title, along with the $10 million bonus prize.[135] At the2016 Ryder Cup in October, McIlroy played five matches and won three points, all when paired withThomas Pieters. In the Sunday singles, he lost toPatrick Reed, 1 up, due to a birdie by Reed at the last hole, as the United States defeated Europe17–11.[136]
At the end of 2016, Nike announced their withdrawal from the golf equipment market, releasing players from their contracts early. After spending several months trying different clubs and balls, McIlroy signed a $100 million endorsement deal withTaylorMade.[137]
McIlroy did not win during 2017, the first time he had a winless year since 2008. He was hampered throughout the season by a rib injury first sustained at theBMW SA Open in January,[138] where he lost out on the title in a playoff toGraeme Storm, McIlroy played a limited schedule as a result of injury, although he did record top-10 finishes at both the2017 Masters Tournament and2017 Open Championship. In his final start of the season, McIlroy finished tied-63rd at theAlfred Dunhill Links Championship in October. He said after the event that he was going to take a three-month break to recuperate from his injuries.[139] Having started the year at 2nd in the OWGR, McIlroy dropped to 11th by the end of the year.[140]
Late in the 2017 season, McIlroy parted ways with JP Fitzgerald, who had been hiscaddie since 2008,[141][142] and hired Harry Diamond, a former Irish amateur international golfer and childhood friend of McIlroy.[143][144] McIlroy said he had been "inundated" with caddie requests, including fromJim "Bones" Mackay and Tiger Woods' former caddieSteve Williams, but decided to opt for Diamond on a permanent basis after a successful trial period.[145]
McIlroy returned after over 100 days away from professional competition at theAbu Dhabi HSBC Championship in January 2018. Prior to the tournament, he said he had been diagnosed with a slight heart irregularity but downplayed its impact on his golf.[146] The following week, McIlroy finished runner-up toLi Haotong in theOmega Dubai Desert Classic. He lost by one stroke, having led by two with five holes to play. It was the 22nd runner-up finish of his career. In March 2018, McIlroy won theArnold Palmer Invitational with a final-round 64, his first win since the 2016Tour Championship.[147]
At the2018 Masters Tournament, which was his tenth Masters start, McIlroy was in the final pairing on Sunday alongsidePatrick Reed, three strokes off the lead. McIlroy shot a two-over 74 to finish in a tie for fifth, six strokes behind the winner, Reed.[148] McIlroy was also in contention at the2018 Open Championship, where he finished runner-up, two strokes behindFrancesco Molinari.[149] In September 2018, McIlroy competed in the2018 Ryder Cup. He went2–3–0, including a loss in the Sunday singles toJustin Thomas, as Team Europe beat Team USA17.5–10.5 to reclaim the Ryder Cup.[150]
McIlroy started 2019 on the PGA Tour in good form with five straight top-6 finishes, including a runner-up finish in February at the2019 WGC-Mexico Championship, five strokes behindDustin Johnson. McIlroy subsequently won the2019 Players Championship in March with a score of −16. With the win, he joinedJack Nicklaus andTiger Woods as the only players to win four majors and 15 PGA Tour titles before the age of 30.[151]
In June 2019, McIlroy won theRBC Canadian Open. He shot a final-round 61 to win the tournament by seven strokes and became the sixth golfer to win the careerTriple Crown (the PGA Tour's three oldest events being the Open Championship, the U.S. Open and the Canadian Open).[152] Two months later, McIlroy clinched his secondFedEx Cup title by winning theTour Championship atEast Lake Golf Club. The winning payout was $15 million, the largest in golf history.[153] He became the second player to win multiple FedEx Cups, after Tiger Woods (2007, 2009).
In November 2019, McIlroy won the2019 WGC-HSBC Champions tournament in a playoff againstXander Schauffele inShanghai, China. The following month, McIlroy stated that he turned down an invitation to the European Tour'sSaudi International tournament inRiyadh, stating that it is "not something that would excite me" and "there's a morality to it as well", in reference to Saudi Arabia's human rights record.[154]
McIlroy began 2020 with four consecutive top-5 finishes on the PGA Tour, which, along with his four wins in the previous calendar year, brought him back to world number one in the OWGR for the first time since 2015.[155] Amidst the suspension of professional tournaments due to theCOVID-19 pandemic, McIlroy, alongsideDustin Johnson, secured a win in a charity skins game in May 2020 played under the nearest-the-pin shot rule, as golf returned to television after nine weeks. The event raised around £4 million for relief efforts.[156] In July, McIlroy lost his spot at world number one toJon Rahm.[157]
At the delayed2020 U.S. Open held in September, McIlroy finished in a tie for 8th place. He also recorded a top-5 finish at the2020 Masters Tournament, which was delayed until November. In January 2021, McIlroy held the 54-hole lead at theAbu Dhabi HSBC Championship. A final round 72 saw him finish in third place, five shots behind eventual winnerTyrrell Hatton.[158] In May 2021, McIlroy won theWells Fargo Championship atQuail Hollow Club by one stroke, which was his third win at Quail Hollow and his 19th PGA Tour victory.[159]
McIlroy representedIreland at theOlympic Games in August 2021. He tied for third after 72 holes and lost in a seven-man playoff for the bronze medal.[160] In September, he played on the European team in the2021 Ryder Cup atWhistling Straits inKohler, Wisconsin. The US team won19–9 and McIlroy went 1–3–0, including a win in his Sunday singles match againstXander Schauffele.
In October 2021, McIlroy won theCJ Cup. He shot62-66 on the weekend to win by one stroke overCollin Morikawa. This was his 20th PGA Tour victory, earning him life membership.[161] In November, McIlroy held the 54-hole lead at theDP World Tour Championship, Dubai, as he sought to become the first player to win the event for a third time. He faltered with a final-round 74 and ultimately finished five shots behind the winner Morikawa.[162]
In January, McIlroy was in contention to win theSlync.io Dubai Desert Classic for the third time in his career but hit his second shot into the water on the final hole and missed out on a playoff for the title by one stroke.[163] At the2022 Masters Tournament In April, McIlroy shot a bogey-free 64 in the final round to finish as runner-up, a new-best finish at the Masters of his career.[164] In May, McIlroy held the first-round lead at the2022 PGA Championship after opening with a 65. He ultimately finished 8th.[165]
In June, McIlroy defended his title at theRBC Canadian Open, shooting a final-round 62 to win by two shots ahead ofTony Finau.[166] The following week, he finished tied-5th at the2022 U.S. Open. In July, McIlroy was tied for the lead after 54 holes at the2022 Open Championship. He shot a final-round 70 to finish third, two strokes behindCameron Smith. He thus finishedtop-10 in all four majors for the first time in his career.[167]
In August, McIlroy won his thirdTour Championship, by one stroke fromScottie Scheffler andIm Sung-jae, to claim his thirdFedEx Cup victory. This victory surpassedTiger Woods's two successes and earned McIlroy an additional $18 million bonus.[168] In September, he finished tied-second at theBMW PGA Championship, losing toShane Lowry by one shot.[169]
In October, McIlroy successfully defended theCJ Cup atCongaree Golf Club in South Carolina. This victory also saw him return to number one in theOfficial World Golf Ranking, overtakingScottie Scheffler.[170] In November, McIlroy entered theDP World Tour Championship on the European Tour sitting in first place on theDP World Tour Rankings. A fourth-place finish was enough for McIlroy to maintain his position at the top of the rankings. It was also his fourthHarry Vardon Trophy win.[171]
McIlroy started off the year by winning theHero Dubai Desert Classic In January. He birdied the final two holes to beatPatrick Reed by one shot.[172] McIlroy missed the cut at the2023 Masters Tournament in April,[173] and finished tied-7th at the2023 PGA Championship in May.
At the2023 U.S. Open in June, McIlroy finished solo-second, one shot behindWyndham Clark.[174] In July, McIlroy won theGenesis Scottish Open, one stroke ahead ofRobert MacIntyre.[175] The following week, at the2023 Open Championship, he finished tied-sixth.[176]
In September, McIlroy played on the European team in the2023 Ryder Cup atMarco Simone Golf and Country Club inRome, Italy. The European team won16.5–11.5 and McIlroy was the top points scorer with a 4–1–0 record, including a win in his Sunday singles match againstSam Burns. In November, McIlroy won his fifthRace to Dubai title; he finished tied-22nd at theDP World Tour Championship, but had already secured the Race to Dubai title before the tournament started. This moved McIlroy to third for most season-long titles won on the European Tour, behindSeve Ballesteros's six andColin Montgomerie's eight.[177]
McIlroy opened his season at the inauguralDubai Invitational in January. He led by one shot with one hole remaining, before hitting his tee shot on the final hole into the water. He bogeyed the hole whileTommy Fleetwood made birdie to win by one.[178] He defended theHero Dubai Desert Classic the following week, his fourth win in the tournament overall. Trailing by 11 shots entering Saturday, he shot a nine-under 63 to propel him into contention before a final round two-under 70 gave him a one shot win overAdrian Meronk.[179]
After a tepid start tothe season on the PGA Tour, including a T22 finish at the2024 Masters Tournament, McIlroy won his first title of the season in April at theZurich Classic of New Orleans, a team event where he competed alongside Ryder Cup teammateShane Lowry. They won in a playoff overChad Ramey andMartin Trainer.[180] This was McIlroy's 25th win on the PGA Tour.[181] In his next start, McIlroy won theWells Fargo Championship for the fourth time in his career. He closed with a 6-under 65, playing the final 11 holes in 6-under and won by five strokes overXander Schauffele.[182]
During the2024 U.S. Open, McIlroy entered the final round in second-place, three strokes behind the lead. He erased the deficit and had a two-stroke lead overBryson DeChambeau with four holes to play, but bogeyed three of the final four holes, including missed putts from inside four feet on both the 16th and 18th holes, to finish one stroke behind DeChambeau.[183][184] At the2024 Open Championship, McIlroy shot78-75 and missed the cut, extending his major championship drought to ten years.[185]
In September, after theTour Championship, McIlroy turned his attention to theEuropean Tour, recording back-to-back runner-up finishes at theAmgen Irish Open[186] and theBMW PGA Championship, in which he lost in a playoff toBilly Horschel.[187] In November, at the season's penultimate event, he finished tied-third at theAbu Dhabi HSBC Championship.[188] The following week, he won theDP World Tour Championship, also claiming theRace to Dubai title for the sixth time in his career.[189]
In his first PGA Tour event of 2025, McIlroy won theAT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am, finishing with a score of −21, beatingShane Lowry by two strokes.[190] At the2025 Players Championship in March, McIlroy shot a final-round 68 to tie for first withJ. J. Spaun and entered a three-hole aggregate playoff. McIlroy won the playoff with an aggregate score of +1 to claim his second Players Championship title.[191] Two weeks later, he finished tied-fifth at theTexas Children's Houston Open and earned $337,844, which took his career earnings on the PGA Tour to $100,046,906. This made McIlroy the second man to reach $100 million in official PGA Tour earnings, joining Tiger Woods who crossed the mark in 2012.[192]
In April, at the2025 Masters Tournament, McIlroy held a two-stroke lead after 54 holes, which was his first 54-hole outright lead at a major since the2014 PGA Championship.[193] He shot a 1-over 73 in the final round whileJustin Rose birdied six of his final eight holes to force a playoff.[194] McIlroy birdied the first playoff hole to win his first Masters and complete the careergrand slam. He became the sixth player, afterGene Sarazen,Ben Hogan,Gary Player,Jack Nicklaus andTiger Woods, to win each of the four major championships in the modern era.[195]
In his next major championship start, McIlroy tied for 47th at the2025 PGA Championship, held atQuail Hollow Club, a course where he had previously recorded four wins. He then missed his first cut of the year at theRBC Canadian Open, shooting rounds of 71-78.[196] After the2025 U.S. Open, where he finished tied-19th,[197] McIlroy stated he had lost motivation since winning the Masters: "I climbed my Everest in April, and I think after you do something like that, you've got to make your way back down, and you've got to look for another mountain to climb."[198][199]
In July, McIlroy finished runner-up at theGenesis Scottish Open, two shots behindChris Gotterup.[200] The following week, McIlroy was the home favourite in the2025 Open Championship held atRoyal Portrush Golf Club. He finished tied-seventh.[201] At theAmgen Irish Open in September, McIlroy holed a 27-foot (8.2 m) putt for eagle on the final hole to match the 17-under 271 posted byJoakim Lagergren and enter a playoff. McIlroy made birdie on the third extra hole to win his national open for the second time in his career.[202][203] Three weeks later, McIlroy represented Europe at the2025 Ryder Cup. He had a3–1–1 record, including a loss in the Sunday singles against world number oneScottie Scheffler, as Europe defeated the United States by a score of 15–13, which was the first away victory in a Ryder Cup since2012.[204][205] In November, McIlroy made eagle on the final hole of theDP World Tour Championship to force a playoff againstMatt Fitzpatrick. McIlroy lost the title to Fitzpatrick on the first playoff hole, but the runner-up finish secured his seventhRace to Dubai title, overtakingSeve Ballesteros' tally of six and moving within one of the record held byColin Montgomerie.[206]
At the 2005Belfast Telegraph Sports Awards, McIlroy received the Young Player of the Year award.[207] He also won the 2008 George Best Breakthrough Prize and the 2009Belfast Telegraph Sports Star of the Year award.[208]
In recognition of his win at the 2011 U.S. Open, McIlroy was named the 2011RTÉ Sports Person of the Year[209] andBBC Northern Ireland Sports Personality of the Year.[210] He also received theLaureus World Sports Award for Breakthrough of the Year,[211][212] and was appointedMember of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in the2012 New Year Honours, for services to sport.[213][214]
In 2012, McIlroy won thePGA Player of the Year andPGA Tour Player of the Year awards, as well as theVardon Trophy andByron Nelson Award.[215][216] He was also voted theEuropean Tour Golfer of the Year andEuropean Tour Players' Player of the Year in 2012. He repeated this award sweep in 2014.[217][218] Also in 2014, he was named RTÉ Sports Person of the Year for a second time,[219] and BBC Northern Ireland Sports Personality of the Year for a third time.[220]
McIlroy has won theMark H. McCormack Award for leading theOfficial World Golf Ranking for the most weeks in a calendar year three times: 2012, 2014 and 2015.[221][222] In 2019, he won the PGA Tour Player of the Year award and the Vardon Trophy for the third time.[223][224][225] In 2022, McIlroy won the Vardon Trophy for a fourth time. His scoring average of 68.67 was the lowest since Tiger Woods' 68.05 in 2009.[226] In 2024, McIlroy won the European Tour Player of the Year award, now renamed theSeve Ballesteros Award, for the fourth time in his career.[227]
Despite his modest stature at 5 feet 9 inches (1.75 m), McIlroy has consistently been among the longestdrivers in professional golf throughout his career.[228][229] He had a "grip-it-and-rip-it" style with a long, fluid swing when he first came out on tour.[230][231] McIlroy developed back problems by the age of 19, requiring the use of heavy strapping andanti-inflammatory medication while playing.[232][233] He was warned by a doctor that he likely would develop astress fracture in his back if he did not change his approach.[234] McIlroy began to work with exercise physiologist Stephen McGregor in 2010,[235] who noted imbalances in McIlroy's body: "He couldn't stand on one leg. He didn't have support and stability in his shoulders. ... He was very arm-speed-dominated in his golf swing, as a lot of young players are, trying to generate as much speed as they can to launch the golf ball."[230]
McGregor, along with McIlroy's long-time coachMichael Bannon,[236] set about rebuilding McIlroy's swing. He started a strict workout regimen, focused on developing strength in his legs and core to generate speed from the ground up and reduce strain on the back. As a result, his clubhead speed became faster than before.[230] McIlroy said in 2017 that he had adegenerative disc in hislumbar vertebrae, adding: "I've been swinging a golf club since I was two years old. That's millions of swings over time, and that takes its toll." He credited McGregor as having the biggest impact of anyone on his golf career, stating that McGregor's guidance had helped him to take better care of his body and extend his career.[235] As of 2025, McIlroy is capable of producing over 190 miles per hour (310 km/h) ball speed.[237]
McIlroy struggled with hisputting at the start of his career and began to work with specialist coach Paul Hurrion in 2008, who stated that McIlroy was overly reliant onhand-eye coordination when putting.[238][239] McIlroy also was introduced to Bob Rotella's bookPutting Out of Your Mind in late 2009.[238] McIlroy later obtained putting instruction from former PGA Tour playerDave Stockton and credited him after winning the2012 PGA Championship for the improvements in his putting.[240][241] McIlroy underwent laser eye surgery in 2015, having previously usedcontact lenses while on the course. He said "I've always felt I struggled reading greens. I've always struggled with my eyes, especially in the summer with hayfever, when you're rubbing your eyes and sometimes things would get under the contact lens," and that after the surgery he had "better than20/20 vision".[242] Since 2018, former PGA Tour playerBrad Faxon has been McIlroy's putting coach. Faxon was known as one of the best putters on tour during his career.[243]
McIlroy has been regarded as one of the most marketable athletes in the world since early on in his career.[83][244] He was an ambassador for hotel chainJumeirah from 2007 to 2012,[245] and signed a multi-million dollar sponsorship agreement withSantander Bank in 2011.[246]SportsPro rated him at third, behindNeymar andLionel Messi, in their 2013 list of the world's most marketable athletes.[247] In 2013, McIlroy signed a 10-year endorsement deal withNike worth up to $250 million, whereby he agreed to be a brand ambassador for their golf clubs, balls and apparel.[248] According to Simon Chadwick, professor of sport business strategy and marketing atCoventry University, Nike viewed McIlroy as their successor toTiger Woods, who was struggling on and off the course at the time.[249] Also in that year, McIlroy signed endorsement deals withBose andOmega.[250] In 2015, McIlroy became the namesake for theEA Sports' video gameRory McIlroy PGA Tour, replacing Tiger Woods, who had been the previous namesake forthe series from 1998 to 2013.[251] In 2017, McIlroy signed a 10-year, $200-million contract extension with Nike for apparel only, after Nike exited the golf equipment business, allowing him to additionally sign a 10-year, $100-million equipment deal withTaylorMade to use their clubs, ball and bag.[252]
After the emergence ofLIV Golf in 2022, McIlroy became a vocal opponent of the Saudi-funded league and some of the prominent individuals associated with it, such asGreg Norman andPhil Mickelson.[253]Sports Business Journal stated that McIlroy "took on the unofficial role as face of the PGA Tour in its battle with LIV Golf".[254] McIlroy criticised the league for having "ripped apart" the game of professional golf.[255] Before the start of theHero Dubai Desert Classic in January 2023, McIlroy was approached by LIV golferPatrick Reed while on the practice range. He refused to talk to Reed, stating afterwards when asked in a press conference that Reed had sent a lawyer to serve him asubpoena on the Christmas Eve prior as part of ananti-trust lawsuit.[256] In June 2023, after the PGA Tour announced a framework agreement for a potential merger with LIV Golf, McIlroy said that he felt like a "sacrificial lamb" due to his support of the PGA Tour.[257] He maintained that "If LIV Golf was the last place to play golf on Earth, I would retire."[258] McIlroy softened his stance against LIV Golf in 2024, stating that he had been "a little judgemental" towards golfers who left the PGA Tour to join LIV, adding "I wouldn't say I've lost the fight against LIV, but I've just accepted the fact that this is part of our sport now."[259]
When turning professional in 2007, McIlroy signed withInternational Sports Management (ISM), an agency founded by former professional golferChubby Chandler. McIlroy left ISM in 2011,[260] and stated he felt like he was being "led down the wrong path" by Chandler, who advised McIlroy to give up his PGA Tour card in 2010 and prioritise the European Tour.[261] McIlroy then signed with Horizon Sports Management, following the lead of his friendGraeme McDowell who had left ISM to join Horizon.[262] McIlroy split from Horizon in 2013.[263] He had agreed a contract extension with the agency in March 2013, which was set to run until 2017.[264] In October 2013, he described the contract as "unconscionable" and said he had been coaxed into signing it. He filed suit against Horizon, claiming they had prioritised their own financial interests to his detriment.[265] Horizon countersued, alleging breach of contract and unpaid fees. A legal battle followed, which ended with an out-of-court settlement in 2015.[266]The Irish Times reported that McIlroy paid the firm in excess of $25 million plus costs to settle the dispute.[267]
After splitting from Horizon in 2013, McIlroy created a new management company, Rory McIlroy Management Services Ltd.[268][269] Initially headed by formerIrish Life and Permanent executive Donal Casey as managing director alongside McIlroy's father Gerry as a director, it manages the royalty payments from McIlroy's various endorsements.[270][271][272] The company is based inDublin.[273] In 2017, McIlroy ranked sixth inForbes' list of the world's highest-paid athletes, having earned $50 million, of which $34 million came from endorsements.[274]
In 2019, McIlroy founded Symphony Ventures, aventure capital firm, alongside his long-time agent Sean O'Flaherty.[254] Headquartered in Dublin, it focuses on the healthcare, sports and technology sectors.[275][276] McIlroy began wearing aWhoop band in 2019 and was among the investors in a $100-million Series E financing round for the company in 2020.[277] He joined the investment group of theAlpine racing team ofFormula One in 2023,[278][279] and the ticket marketplaceTickPick in 2024.[254][280] McIlroy founded TMRW Sports in 2022, alongsideTiger Woods and former Golf Channel executiveMike McCarley.[281] The company's first project wasTGL, an indoor golf league which secured a broadcasting deal withESPN. A funding round in 2024 valued TMRW Sports at $500 million.[282] In 2025, McIlroy partnered with private equity firmTPG to form TPG Sports, an investment fund targeting the sports sector.[283]
McIlroy was raisedCatholic and has self-identified as Irish,[284] Northern Irish,[284] and British.[285][286] He carries aBritish passport,[287] although he usually is reluctant to discuss his nationality at length.[288][289] Duringthe Troubles, McIlroy's great uncle Joe McIlroy was shot to death by theUlster Volunteer Force in a sectarian attack at his home in 1972, after he moved his Catholic family into the predominantly-Protestant area ofOrangefield, Belfast.[290][291][292] Despite this family trauma, McIlroy's parents refused to become embittered.[7][290] McIlroy attended amixed school that was majority Protestant and stated his Catholic background "was never an issue". Regarding the Troubles, McIlroy said in 2012: "I haven't talked about it with my parents. I don't want to be defined by that. It's not how my generation thinks."[293][294]
As golf was named an Olympic sport for the first time since 1904 at the2016 Summer Olympics, McIlroy was regularly questioned whether he would representGreat Britain orIreland. He stated in 2013: "I feel Northern Irish and obviously being from Northern Ireland you have a connection to Ireland and a connection to the UK. If I could and there was a Northern Irish team I'd play for Northern Ireland. Play for one side or the other – or not play at all because I may upset too many people ... Those are my three options I'm considering very carefully."[295][296] On the eve of the 2014Irish Open, he declared that he would represent Ireland at the Olympics.[297][298]
In 2009, McIlroy bought a house inMoneyreagh, a small village south of Belfast.[299] The house sat on a 13-acre plot of land, where he had a custom-made practice facility and a scaled-downassociation football pitch.[300][301] McIlroy hired security guards for the property after he won the 2011 U.S. Open, as the increased attention led to strangers driving up his driveway. He said he began to feel like he was living in a goldfish bowl.[302] In September 2012, the house was put up for sale for a price of £2 million.[303] In December 2012, McIlroy purchased a $10-million property inPalm Beach Gardens, Florida, located close toJack Nicklaus' Bear's Club.[304][305] McIlroy has also maintained residences inMonaco andDubai.[306] In 2024, McIlroy took delivery of aGulfstream G650ER, a private jet. He previously owned aBombardier Challenger 605.[307][308] In 2025, McIlroy moved into a home in theWentworth Estate in Surrey.[309]
McIlroy is a fan ofManchester United F.C.[310] Following his 2014 Open Championship win atRoyal Liverpool, he made reference to his support forLiverpool's rivals during his acceptance speech, prompting light-hearted boos from the crowd.[311] McIlroy is also a fan of theNorthern Ireland national team. In his spare time, he played football himself. McIlroy injured his ankle ligaments in 2015, while playing with friends, forcing him to withdraw from the2015 Open Championship.[312] He said in December of that year: "I really can't be doing silly things like playing football in the middle of the season ... I won't be making those mistakes again."[313] McIlroy is a fan ofUlster Rugby and has interrupted his busy golf schedule to attend matches atRavenhill Stadium in Belfast.[314][315] McIlroy said in 2023 that he is a fan of theBuffalo Bills,[316] as his wife Erica is originally fromIrondequoit, New York. McIlroy stated: "It certainly makes it easier to root for the Bills whenJosh Allen is throwing the football."[317]
In 2018, McIlroy appeared on an episode ofAmazon Prime showThe Grand Tour, racing againstParis Hilton in the "Celebrity Face-Off" segment of the show.[318] McIlroy featured in the sports documentary seriesFull Swing, which premiered on Netflix in 2023.[319] McIlroy made a cameo appearance in the 2025 filmHappy Gilmore 2, a sequel toHappy Gilmore (1996).[320]
McIlroy dated Danish tennis playerCaroline Wozniacki from 2011 to 2014.[321] They became engaged in December 2013.[322] McIlroy ended the engagement in May 2014:[323] "The problem is mine. The wedding invitations issued at the weekend made me realise that I wasn't ready for all that marriage entails. I wish Caroline all the happiness she deserves and thank her for the great times we've had."[324][325]
McIlroy started dating Erica Stoll, a formerPGA of America employee, in 2015.[326][327] In December 2015, they became engaged while on holiday inParis.[328][329] They married in April 2017 atAshford Castle inCong, County Mayo.[330] The couple had a daughter in September 2020.[331] In May 2024, McIlroy filed for divorce inPalm Beach County, Florida.[332][333] By 11 June 2024, the divorce filing was withdrawn, with McIlroy stating: "We have resolved our differences and look forward to a new beginning."[334]
McIlroy became an ambassador forUNICEF Ireland in 2011,[335] and visitedHaiti with UNICEF in June of that year.[336][337] He cancelled a trip to Haiti with UNICEF in 2013 as it conflicted with his participation in theValero Texas Open. McIlroy's management team Horizon then donated $166,000 of his money to UNICEF without his knowledge, to "avoid any bad publicity".[338][339] McIlroy had been advised by his then-partner Caroline Wozniacki against donating toNGOs such as UNICEF and instead to create a foundation. McIlroy reversed the donation, and was upset that his management team had made the transaction without his approval.[338][340][341]
In 2013, McIlroy created The Rory Foundation, with a stated goal of supporting children's charities.[342] Through the foundation, McIlroy pledged £1 million in 2014 to the Cancer Fund for Children inNewcastle, County Down.[343] During 2016, the foundation dispensed a total of £1.15 million to charities in Ireland and the United Kingdom, of which £862,543 was donated directly by McIlroy.[344] The foundation shut down in December 2018, with a spokeswoman of the foundation stating that McIlroy "is adopting a private philanthropic policy".[342] It was announced in 2023 that McIlroy had paid €1 million towards the construction of a Cancer Fund for Children lodge inCong, County Mayo.[345][346]
| Legend |
|---|
| Major championships (5) |
| Players Championships (2) |
| World Golf Championships (3) |
| FedEx Cup playoff events (6) |
| Signature events (2) |
| Other PGA Tour (11) |
| No. | Date | Tournament | Winning score | To par | Margin of victory | Runner(s)-up |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 May2010 | Quail Hollow Championship | 72-73-66-62=273 | −15 | 4 strokes |  Phil Mickelson |
| 2 | 19 Jun2011 | U.S. Open | 65-66-68-69=268 | −16 | 8 strokes |  Jason Day |
| 3 | 4 Mar2012 | The Honda Classic | 66-67-66-69=268 | −12 | 2 strokes | Tom Gillis,Tiger Woods |
| 4 | 12 Aug 2012 | PGA Championship | 67-75-67-66=275 | −13 | 8 strokes |  David Lynn |
| 5 | 3 Sep 2012 | Deutsche Bank Championship | 65-65-67-67=264 | −20 | 1 stroke |  Louis Oosthuizen |
| 6 | 9 Sep 2012 | BMW Championship | 64-68-69-67=268 | −20 | 2 strokes | Phil Mickelson,Lee Westwood |
| 7 | 20 Jul2014 | The Open Championship | 66-66-68-71=271 | −17 | 2 strokes | Rickie Fowler, Sergio García |
| 8 | 3 Aug 2014 | WGC-Bridgestone Invitational | 69-64-66-66=265 | −15 | 2 strokes | Sergio García |
| 9 | 10 Aug 2014 | PGA Championship (2) | 66-67-67-68=268 | −16 | 1 stroke | Phil Mickelson |
| 10 | 3 May2015 | WGC-Cadillac Match Play | 4 and 2 | Gary Woodland | ||
| 11 | 17 May 2015 | Wells Fargo Championship (2) | 70-67-61-69=267 | −21 | 7 strokes | Patrick Rodgers,Webb Simpson |
| 12 | 5 Sep2016 | Deutsche Bank Championship (2) | 71-67-66-65=269 | −15 | 2 strokes | Paul Casey |
| 13 | 25 Sep 2016 | Tour Championship | 68-70-66-64=268 | −12 | Playoff | Kevin Chappell,Ryan Moore |
| 14 | 18 Mar2018 | Arnold Palmer Invitational | 69-70-67-64=270 | −18 | 3 strokes | Bryson DeChambeau |
| 15 | 17 Mar2019 | The Players Championship | 67-65-70-70=272 | −16 | 1 stroke | Jim Furyk |
| 16 | 9 Jun 2019 | RBC Canadian Open | 67-66-64-61=258 | −22 | 7 strokes |  Shane Lowry,Webb Simpson |
| 17 | 25 Aug 2019 | Tour Championship (2) | 66-67-68-66=267 | −181 | 4 strokes | Xander Schauffele |
| 18 | 3 Nov2019 | WGC-HSBC Champions | 67-67-67-68=269 | −19 | Playoff | Xander Schauffele |
| 19 | 9 May2021 | Wells Fargo Championship (3) | 72-66-68-68=274 | −10 | 1 stroke |  Abraham Ancer |
| 20 | 17 Oct2021 | CJ Cup | 68-67-62-66=263 | −25 | 1 stroke | Collin Morikawa |
| 21 | 12 Jun2022 | RBC Canadian Open (2) | 66-68-65-62=261 | −19 | 2 strokes | Tony Finau |
| 22 | 28 Aug 2022 | Tour Championship (3) | 67-67-63-66=263 | −212 | 1 stroke |  Im Sung-jae,Scottie Scheffler |
| 23 | 23 Oct2022 | CJ Cup (2) | 66-67-67-67=267 | −17 | 1 stroke | Kurt Kitayama |
| 24 | 16 Jul2023 | Genesis Scottish Open3 | 64-66-67-68=265 | −15 | 1 stroke |  Robert MacIntyre |
| 25 | 28 Apr2024 | Zurich Classic of New Orleans (with Shane Lowry) | 61-70-64-68=263 | −25 | Playoff | Chad Ramey and Martin Trainer |
| 26 | 12 May 2024 | Wells Fargo Championship (4) | 67-68-67-65=267 | −17 | 5 strokes | Xander Schauffele |
| 27 | 2 Feb2025 | AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am | 66-70-65-66=267 | −21 | 2 strokes | Shane Lowry |
| 28 | 17 Mar 2025 | The Players Championship (2) | 67-68-73-68=276 | −12 | Playoff | J. J. Spaun |
| 29 | 13 Apr 2025 | Masters Tournament | 72-66-66-73=277 | −11 | Playoff | Justin Rose |
1Started tournament at −5 FedEx Cup playoffs adjustment, scored −13 to par.
2Started tournament at −4 FedEx Cup playoffs adjustment, scored −17 to par.
3Co-sanctioned by theEuropean Tour
PGA Tour playoff record (5–2)
| No. | Year | Tournament | Opponent(s) | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2012 | Wells Fargo Championship | Rickie Fowler,D. A. Points | Fowler won with birdie on first extra hole |
| 2 | 2014 | The Honda Classic | Russell Henley,Russell Knox,Ryan Palmer | Henley won with birdie on first extra hole |
| 3 | 2016 | Tour Championship | Kevin Chappell,Ryan Moore | Won with birdie on fourth extra hole Chappell eliminated by birdie on first hole |
| 4 | 2019 | WGC-HSBC Champions | Xander Schauffele | Won with birdie on first extra hole |
| 5 | 2024 | Zurich Classic of New Orleans (with Shane Lowry) | Chad Ramey andMartin Trainer | Won with par on first extra hole |
| 6 | 2025 | The Players Championship | J. J. Spaun | Won three-hole aggregate playoff; McIlroy: +1 (4-4-5=13), Spaun: x (5-6-x=x) |
| 7 | 2025 | Masters Tournament | Justin Rose | Won with birdie on first extra hole |
| Legend |
|---|
| Major championships (5) |
| World Golf Championships (3) |
| Flagship events (1) |
| Tour C'ships/Race to Dubai finals series/Playoff events (3) |
| Rolex Series (4)[a] |
| Other European Tour (5) |
| No. | Date | Tournament | Winning score | To par | Margin of victory | Runner(s)-up |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 Feb2009 | Dubai Desert Classic | 64-68-67-70=269 | −19 | 1 stroke | Justin Rose |
| 2 | 19 Jun2011 | U.S. Open | 65-66-68-69=268 | −16 | 8 strokes | Jason Day |
| 3 | 4 Dec 2011 | UBS Hong Kong Open1 | 64-69-70-65=268 | −12 | 2 strokes | Grégory Havret |
| 4 | 12 Aug2012 | PGA Championship | 67-75-67-66=275 | −13 | 8 strokes | David Lynn |
| 5 | 25 Nov 2012 | DP World Tour Championship, Dubai | 66-67-66-66=265 | −23 | 2 strokes | Justin Rose |
| 6 | 25 May2014 | BMW PGA Championship | 68-71-69-66=274 | −14 | 1 stroke | Shane Lowry |
| 7 | 20 Jul 2014 | The Open Championship | 66-66-68-71=271 | −17 | 2 strokes | Rickie Fowler,Sergio García |
| 8 | 3 Aug 2014 | WGC-Bridgestone Invitational | 69-64-66-66=265 | −15 | 2 strokes | Sergio García |
| 9 | 10 Aug 2014 | PGA Championship (2) | 66-67-67-68=268 | −16 | 1 stroke | Phil Mickelson |
| 10 | 1 Feb2015 | Omega Dubai Desert Classic (2) | 66-64-66-70=266 | −22 | 3 strokes |  Alex Norén |
| 11 | 3 May 2015 | WGC-Cadillac Match Play | 4 and 2 | Gary Woodland | ||
| 12 | 22 Nov 2015 | DP World Tour Championship, Dubai (2) | 68-68-65-66=267 | −21 | 1 stroke | Andy Sullivan |
| 13 | 22 May2016 | Dubai Duty Free Irish Open | 67-70-70-69=276 | −12 | 3 strokes |  Bradley Dredge,Russell Knox |
| 14 | 3 Nov2019 | WGC-HSBC Champions | 67-67-67-68=269 | −19 | Playoff | Xander Schauffele |
| 15 | 30 Jan2023 | Hero Dubai Desert Classic (3) | 66-70-65-68=269 | −19 | 1 stroke | Patrick Reed |
| 16 | 16 Jul 2023 | Genesis Scottish Open2 | 64-66-67-68=265 | −15 | 1 stroke | Robert MacIntyre |
| 17 | 21 Jan2024 | Hero Dubai Desert Classic (4) | 71-70-63-70=274 | −14 | 1 stroke |  Adrian Meronk |
| 18 | 17 Nov 2024 | DP World Tour Championship (3) | 67-69-68-69=273 | −15 | 2 strokes |  Rasmus Højgaard |
| 19 | 13 Apr2025 | Masters Tournament | 72-66-66-73=277 | −11 | Playoff | Justin Rose |
| 20 | 7 Sep 2025 | Amgen Irish Open (2) | 71-66-68-66=271 | −17 | Playoff | Joakim Lagergren |
1Co-sanctioned by theAsian Tour
2Co-sanctioned by thePGA Tour
European Tour playoff record (3–6)
| No. | Year | Tournament | Opponent(s) | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2008 | Omega European Masters | Jean-François Lucquin | Lost to birdie on second extra hole |
| 2 | 2008 | UBS Hong Kong Open |  Lin Wen-tang, Francesco Molinari | Lin won with birdie on second extra hole Molinari eliminated by birdie on first hole |
| 3 | 2017 | BMW SA Open | Graeme Storm | Lost to par on third extra hole |
| 4 | 2019 | Omega European Masters | Lorenzo Gagli, Andrés Romero, Kalle Samooja,Sebastian Söderberg | Söderberg won with birdie on first extra hole |
| 5 | 2019 | WGC-HSBC Champions | Xander Schauffele | Won with birdie on first extra hole |
| 6 | 2024 | BMW PGA Championship | Billy Horschel,Thriston Lawrence | Horschel won with eagle on second extra hole Lawrence eliminated by birdie on first hole |
| 7 | 2025 | Masters Tournament | Justin Rose | Won with birdie on first extra hole |
| 8 | 2025 | Amgen Irish Open | Joakim Lagergren | Won with birdie on third extra hole |
| 9 | 2025 | DP World Tour Championship | Matt Fitzpatrick | Lost to par on first extra hole |
| Legend |
|---|
| Flagship events (1) |
| Other PGA Tour of Australia (0) |
| No. | Date | Tournament | Winning score | To par | Margin of victory | Runner-up |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 Dec2013 | Emirates Australian Open1 | 69-65-70-66=270 | −18 | 1 stroke | Adam Scott |
1Co-sanctioned by theOneAsia Tour
| No. | Date | Tournament | Winning score | To par | Margin of victory | Runner(s)-up |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 22 Jul 2009 | Lough Erne Challenge | 68 | −4 | 2 strokes | Pádraig Harrington |
| 2 | 21 Jul 2010 | Lough Erne Challenge (2) (with  Darren Clarke) | 66 | −6 | 1 stroke | Pádraig Harrington andShane Lowry |
| 3 | 30 Oct 2011 | Lake Malaren Shanghai Masters | 64-69-65-72=270 | −18 | Playoff | Anthony Kim |
| 4 | 17 May 2020 | TaylorMade Driving Relief (with Dustin Johnson) | $1,850,000 | $700,000 | Rickie Fowler andMatthew Wolff | |
Other playoff record (1–0)
| No. | Year | Tournament | Opponent | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2011 | Lake Malaren Shanghai Masters | Anthony Kim | Won with par on first extra hole |
| Year | Championship | 54 holes | Winning score | Margin | Runner(s)-up |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 | U.S. Open | 8 shot lead | −16 (65-66-68-69=268) | 8 strokes | Jason Day |
| 2012 | PGA Championship | 3 shot lead | −13 (67-75-67-66=275) | 8 strokes | David Lynn |
| 2014 | The Open Championship | 6 shot lead | −17 (66-66-68-71=271) | 2 strokes | Rickie Fowler,Sergio García |
| 2014 | PGA Championship (2) | 1 shot lead | −16 (66-67-67-68=268) | 1 stroke | Phil Mickelson |
| 2025 | Masters Tournament | 2 shot lead | −11 (72-66-66-73=277) | Playoff1 | Justin Rose |
1Defeated Rose in a sudden-death playoff: McIlroy (3), Rose (4).
Results not in chronological order in 2020.
| Tournament | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Masters Tournament | T20 | ||
| U.S. Open | T10 | ||
| The Open Championship | T42LA | T47 | |
| PGA Championship | T3 |
| Tournament | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Masters Tournament | CUT | T15 | T40 | T25 | T8 | 4 | T10 | T7 | T5 |
| U.S. Open | CUT | 1 | CUT | T41 | T23 | T9 | CUT | CUT | CUT |
| The Open Championship | T3 | T25 | T60 | CUT | 1 | T5 | T4 | T2 | |
| PGA Championship | T3 | T64 | 1 | T8 | 1 | 17 | CUT | T22 | T50 |
| Tournament | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Masters Tournament | T21 | T5 | CUT | 2 | CUT | T22 | 1 |
| PGA Championship | T8 | T33 | T49 | 8 | T7 | T12 | T47 |
| U.S. Open | T9 | T8 | T7 | T5 | 2 | 2 | T19 |
| The Open Championship | CUT | NT | T46 | 3 | T6 | CUT | T7 |
LA = low amateur
CUT = missed the halfway cut
"T" = tied
NT = no tournament due toCOVID-19 pandemic
| Tournament | Wins | 2nd | 3rd | Top-5 | Top-10 | Top-25 | Events | Cuts made |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Masters Tournament | 1 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 8 | 13 | 17 | 14 |
| PGA Championship | 2 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 8 | 11 | 17 | 16 |
| U.S. Open | 1 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 9 | 11 | 17 | 12 |
| The Open Championship | 1 | 1 | 2 | 6 | 8 | 9 | 16 | 13 |
| Totals | 5 | 4 | 4 | 19 | 33 | 44 | 67 | 55 |
| Year | Championship | 54 holes | Winning score | Margin | Runner-up |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | The Players Championship | 1 shot deficit | −16 (67-65-70-70=272) | 1 stroke | Jim Furyk |
| 2025 | The Players Championship | 4 shot deficit | −12 (67-68-73-68=276) | Playoff | J. J. Spaun |
| Tournament | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Players Championship | CUT | CUT | CUT | T8 | T6 | T8 | T12 | T35 | CUT | 1 |
| Tournament | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Players Championship | C | CUT | T33 | CUT | T19 | 1 |
CUT = missed the halfway cut
"T" indicates a tie for a place
C = Cancelled after the first round due to theCOVID-19 pandemic
| Year | Championship | 54 holes | Winning score | Margin | Runner-up |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | WGC-Bridgestone Invitational | 3 shot deficit | −15 (69-64-66-66=265) | 2 strokes | Sergio García |
| 2015 | WGC-Cadillac Match Play | n/a | 4 and 2 | Gary Woodland | |
| 2019 | WGC-HSBC Champions | 1 shot lead | −19 (67-67-67-68=269) | Playoff | Xander Schauffele |
Results not in chronological order before 2015.
| Tournament | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Championship | T20 | T65 | T10 | 3 | T8 | T25 | T9 | T3 | T7 | 2 | 5 | T6 | |||
| Match Play | QF | R32 | R32 | 2 | R64 | R32 | 1 | 4 | T30 | T36 | R16 | NT1 | T28 | 3 | |
| Invitational | T68 | T9 | T6 | T5 | T27 | 1 | T5 | T6 | T4 | T47 | T12 | ||||
| Champions | 4 | 5 | T4 | T6 | T11 | T4 | T54 | 1 | NT1 | NT1 | NT1 | ||||
1Cancelled due toCOVID-19 pandemic
QF, R16, R32, R64 = Round in which player lost in match play
NT = no tournament
"T" = tied
Note that the Championship and Invitational were discontinued from 2022. The Champions was discontinued from 2023.
| Season | Starts | Cuts made | Wins | 2nd | 3rd | Top 10 | Top 25 | Earnings (€) | Order of Merit rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | (amateur) | n/a |
| 2006 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | (amateur) | n/a |
| 2007 | 8 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 277,255 | 95 |
| 2008 | 28 | 16 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 6 | 10 | 696,335 | 36 |
| 2009 | 25 | 24 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 14 | 18 | 2,862,413 | 2 |
| 2010 | 16 | 14 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 9 | 11 | 1,657,187 | 13 |
| 2011 | 19 | 19 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 12 | 17 | 3,171,787 | 2 |
| 2012 | 15 | 13 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 10 | 10 | 4,738,026 | 1 |
| 2013 | 13 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 5 | 862,177 | 35 |
| 2014 | 14 | 13 | 4 | 3 | 0 | 9 | 13 | 5,883,304 | 1 |
| 2015 | 12 | 10 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 8 | 10 | 4,540,010 | 1 |
| 2016 | 13 | 12 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 10 | 10 | 2,971,988 | 5 |
| 2017 | 12 | 10 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 6 | 7 | 1,832,091 | 13 |
| 2018 | 13 | 12 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 6 | 8 | 2,526,233 | 7 |
| 2019 | 12 | 11 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 8 | 9 | 3,093,919 | 6 |
| 2020 | 5 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 1,110,743 | 20 |
| 2021 | 11 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 5 | 1,417,505 | 19 |
| 2022 | 10 | 10 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 9 | 10 | 5,546,161 | 1 |
| 2023 | 10 | 9 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 7 | 9 | 7,475,321 | 1 |
| 2024 | 12 | 11 | 2 | 4 | 1 | 8 | 11 | 9,170,632 | 1 |
| Career* | 252 | 210 | 18 | 27 | 21 | 135 | 170 | 59,833,086 | 1[349] |
*As of the 31 December 2024. Money prize figures are rounded up to nearest Euro.[350]
| Season | Starts | Cuts made | Wins (majors) | 2nd | 3rd | Top-10 | Top-25 | Earnings ($) | Money list rank | FedEx Cup rank | Scoring avg (adj) | Scoring rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2007 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | (amateur) | n/a[b] | n/a[b] | ||
| 2009 | 11 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 7 | 849,719 | n/a[b] | n/a[b] | 70.21 | n/a[b] |
| 2010 | 16 | 12 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 5 | 6 | 2,554,280 | 26 | 36 | 70.35 | 33 |
| 2011 | 10 | 9 | 1 (1) | 0 | 0 | 4 | 7 | 1,905,609 | n/a[b] | n/a[b] | 69.48 | n/a[b] |
| 2012 | 16 | 13 | 4 (1) | 2 | 1 | 10 | 11 | 8,047,952 | 1 | 2 | 68.87 | 1 |
| 2013 | 16 | 14 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 7 | 1,802,443 | 41 | 50 | 70.29 | 34 |
| 2013–14 | 17 | 17 | 3 (2) | 2 | 0 | 12 | 17 | 8,280,096 | 1 | 3 | 68.83 | 1 |
| 2014–15 | 12 | 11 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 10 | 4,863,312 | 7 | 15 | 68.32 | – |
| 2015–16 | 18 | 15 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 8 | 11 | 5,790,585 | 4 | 1 | 69.64 | 6 |
| 2016–17 | 14 | 12 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 8 | 2,430,182 | 39 | 58 | 69.53 | 6 |
| 2017–18 | 18 | 14 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 7 | 11 | 4,410,296 | 14 | T13 | 69.30 | 5 |
| 2018–19 | 19 | 17 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 14 | 16 | 7,785,286 | 2 | 1 | 69.06 | 1 |
| 2019–20 | 15 | 15 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 7 | 9 | 4,408,415 | 8 | 8 | 69.22 | 4 |
| 2020–21 | 21 | 18 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 14 | 4,391,809 | 20 | T14 | 70.043 | 16 |
| 2021-22 | 16 | 14 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 10 | 13 | 8,654,566 | 5 | 1 | 68.67 | 1 |
| 2022-23 | 18 | 16 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 13 | 13 | 13,921,008 | 4 | 4 | 68.77 | 2 |
| 2024 | 19 | 18 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 7 | 15 | 10,893,790 | 4 | 9 | 69.91 | 5 |
| Career[c] | 257 | 220 | 26 (4) | 11 | 10 | 125 | 175 | 90,989,347 | 2[351] |
Amateur
Professional
| 2010 | 2012 | 2014 | 2016 | 2018 | 2021 | 2023 | 2025 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 3.5 | 21.5 |
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{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
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