Rory McIlroy has officially secured his place among golf’s all-time greats, becoming just the sixth player in history to complete the career Grand Slam. His Masters triumph wasn’t just a personal milestone—it was the final, elusive piece of a journey more than a decade in the making.
Now 35 and soon to turn 36, McIlroy insists he’s a better golfer than he was a decade ago, and his recent form backs that up. In 18 years as a professional—literally half his life—he’s never won three times before May, until now. With $13.2 million earned in just six PGA Tour starts this year, he’s riding high not just in results but in confidence. And most importantly, he’s playing freely.
That sense of liberation was visible the moment he sank the winning putt at Augusta. His head dropped in relief, then lifted in joy as Scottie Scheffler helped him into the famed green jacket—a symbol of a dream finally realized. Now McIlroy has a permanent locker at Augusta National and a standing invitation to the prestigious Champions Dinner. It was a moment 11 years in the making.
“Now what are we going to talk about next year?” McIlroy joked after his win, reveling in the weight that had just been lifted off his shoulders.
With the Grand Slam now complete, the conversation around McIlroy has shifted from what he was missing to what more he could achieve. A calendar Grand Slam? It’s suddenly not far-fetched. The remaining majors this year all seem to play to his strengths.
Next up is the PGA Championship at Quail Hollow—where McIlroy has already won four times. Then comes the U.S. Open at Oakmont, a tough course made for powerful players like him. Though he struggled there in the past, this is a different, freer McIlroy.
And then comes the Open Championship at Royal Portrush in his native Northern Ireland—a venue that carries both pride and unfinished business. Last time at Portrush, the weight of expectation crushed him early with an out-of-bounds opening shot. Now, with less pressure and a major monkey off his back, McIlroy returns with clarity and purpose.
Brad Faxon, McIlroy’s friend and putting mentor, sees no limit to what he can achieve now. “He can go on to win 10 majors,” Faxon said, echoing praise once reserved for a young Tiger Woods.
Of course, Tiger’s path remains the gold standard in modern golf—15 majors, five green jackets, and comparisons to Jack Nicklaus’ legendary 18. McIlroy now sits with five, tied with Brooks Koepka, still far from Tiger and Jack, but undeniably within the conversation.
Winning at Augusta finally ends years of close calls and what-ifs. In 16 attempts, McIlroy had only twice reached the back nine on Sunday with a real shot at winning the Masters. This victory closes that chapter—and perhaps opens a new one.
Other legends—Greg Norman, Tom Weiskopf, David Duval, Ken Venturi—also came close, but often left Augusta with heartbreak. McIlroy, despite years of anticipation, never carried the same level of scar tissue.
Two years ago, after narrowly missing a U.S. Open win, McIlroy said he would endure “100 Sundays like this” for another major. To win at Augusta? He would’ve endured 1,000.
Joining Tiger Woods, Jack Nicklaus, Gary Player, Ben Hogan, and Gene Sarazen as the only men with the career Grand Slam puts McIlroy in an exclusive club. But among them, he’s unique: the only one to seal the Slam with a Masters win, at the most iconic venue in golf—where history, memory, and tradition run deepest.
The victory also highlights what separates McIlroy from others who came close. Sam Snead, who shares the all-time PGA Tour wins record, never won a U.S. Open. Phil Mickelson has done nearly everything but still needs that one major—also the U.S. Open—to complete his Slam. Tom Watson and Arnold Palmer never claimed the PGA Championship.
For years, it seemed McIlroy might also fall into the “almost” category. But not anymore. With the Masters now behind him, the burden is gone—and the path ahead has never looked more promising.
