The amateur steps up.
Leading amateur at The Open. A Walker Cup appearance. Then the move into professional golf.
A first win in Dubai.
The Dubai Desert Classic brings his first European Tour title.
A breakthrough in America.
Quail Hollow delivers a first PGA Tour victory; Celtic Manor brings his Ryder Cup debut.
A major response.
After a difficult final round at the Masters, McIlroy wins the U.S. Open at Congressional by eight shots.
At the top of the game.
He first reaches world No. 1 after the Honda Classic, then adds the PGA Championship and his first Race to Dubai title.
The summer of two majors.
The Open at Royal Liverpool and the PGA Championship take him to four major titles. At Valhalla, he recovers from three shots behind with nine holes left. The two victories show different ways of winning: holding a lead at The Open and chasing one down at the PGA. Read the two-major summer →
Home-soil joy.
A first Irish Open victory at The K Club and a first FedEx Cup crown mark another milestone season. The home victory comes from behind; the Tour Championship is settled in a playoff. Official career archive.
Another season-long crown.
Wins at The Players and the Tour Championship accompany his second FedEx Cup.
Three FedEx Cups.
McIlroy becomes the first three-time FedEx Cup winner. His official archive also records a return to world No. 1 and a fourth season-long DP World Tour title that year. Official career archive.
The career Grand Slam
Augusta. At last.
A playoff victory over Justin Rose at the Masters completes the set of all four men’s majors.
The significance of the green jacket ↗Back-to-back at the Masters.
Rory successfully defends at Augusta, becoming the fourth golfer to win consecutive Masters titles.
Expanded 2014, 2016 and 2022 chapters checked against the official career archive, 12 October 2026.