Rory McIlroy’s debut on the PGA Tour in 2010 was highly anticipated. By the time he entered the professional golf scene in 2007 as a seventeen-year-old—making the cut in his first professional tournament—few had not heard his name. As a junior golfer, Rory was known around the world as “the next Tiger Woods.” He had one of the greatest junior golf careers ever seen, appearing multiple times on Irish television to showcase his elite command over the golf ball. He quickly rose to the top of the World Amateur Golf Rankings. The media fed into the Tiger Woods comparison and propelled his story internationally.
As expected, Rory’s rookie season on the PGA Tour in 2010 was marked by immediate success. He finished in the top ten five times out of eighteen starts. Before turning twenty-one, McIlroy earned his first PGA Tour win at the Quail Hollow Championship, where he shot a course-record 62 in the final round. He crushed big-name superstars like Phil Mickelson and secured his win by four shots. Expectations around McIlroy soared—after all, the only other golfer to win before turning twenty-one was Tiger Woods. In his early years, Rory faced those expectations head-on—and conquered them.
The ultimate measure of a golfer on the PGA Tour is Major Championship wins. There are four: the Masters Tournament, the PGA Championship, the U.S. Open, and The Open Championship (British Open). Rory won his first Major at the 2011 U.S. Open. He followed quickly with another in 2012, then the 2014 PGA Championship, and finally The Open Championship in 2014. He had three of the four majors before turning thirty. At this point, many believed Rory would become the next great golfer. But everything came to a screeching halt as he pursued the final, elusive title: The Masters.
Winning all four majors is called the “Career Grand Slam”. Only five golfers have accomplished this feat: Gene Sarazen, Ben Hogan, Gary Player, Jack Nicklaus, and Tiger Woods. It is the pinnacle of golfing achievement. Rory needed just one more. Yet, for ten years leading up to the 2025 season, he failed to win another major. The question lingered: Was this finally Rory’s year?
Everything changed in 2025.
Rory opened the season with a win at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am. Then came a stunning victory at the 2025 Players Championship—the most prestigious event outside the four majors.
All eyes turned to Augusta National and The Masters”.
McIlroy and previous winner Scottie Scheffler were the favorites going into the Masters. Rory opened the tournament with a 72, placing his chances at the Green Jacket seemingly out of reach. But he bounced back with a strong 66 on day two, jumping into the top ten. On the third day, Rory shot a 69, placing him twelve-under and tied for first with Bryson DeChambeau.
The final round was chaos. After opening with a double bogey, Rory battled through what would become one of the greatest up-and-down rounds Augusta National had ever seen. His grip on first slipped nearly every hole. With Justin Rose birdieing the 18th just thirty minutes before Rory arrived, McIlroy now needed a birdie to win. He hit the fairway off the tee, but his approach fell short into the bunker. Rory chipped out, leaving himself five feet for birdie. He missed. A sudden-death playoff began.
On the first playoff hole, both players hit the green—Rose with a 20-footer, Rory with just four feet. Justin missed. Rory made his putt.
The drought was over. The Career Grand Slam was complete.
For a boy in Northern Ireland with big dreams to one of golf’s all-time greats, Rory McIlroy’s legend was now secured. And while his story is far from over, the 2025 Masters marked the moment he joined the immortals of the game.
