Rory McIlroy is a four-time major champion from Holywood, Northern Ireland, with victories at the U.S. Open (2011), PGA Championship (2012, 2014), and The Open Championship (2014). He has 25 PGA Tour wins and remains one of the most talented ball-strikers in the history of the sport.
McIlroy’s game is defined by explosive power off the tee and a fluid swing that generates clubhead speed with seemingly minimal effort. When his driver is firing, he can overpower golf courses in a way that few players in history have matched. His iron play from long range is equally impressive, allowing him to attack par 5s in two and turn par 4s into birdie opportunities. The areas that have occasionally held him back, most notably his putting and wedge play on tight approaches, have shown improvement in recent seasons.
McIlroy’s major record is a study in brilliance and near-misses. His 2011 U.S. Open win at Congressional, where he led wire to wire and won by eight shots at age 22, announced a generational talent. The 2014 double of The Open at Hoylake and the PGA Championship at Valhalla confirmed it. Since 2014, however, the fifth major has eluded him. He has finished second at the Masters, came agonizingly close at the 2024 U.S. Open at Pinehurst, and has accumulated over a dozen top-10 major finishes. The career Grand Slam, requiring a Masters victory, remains the defining quest of his career.
McIlroy will tee it up at all four 2026 majors: The Masters, PGA Championship, U.S. Open, and The Open Championship. Fans in Northern Ireland and across the UK can follow in United Kingdom time.