Rory McIlroy is a Northern Irish professional golfer renowned for his achievements on the European and PGA Tours. As a former world number one, he held the top spot in the Official World Golf Ranking for over 100 weeks. McIlroy is a five-time major champion and one of only six golfers to accomplish a modern career Grand Slam, notably being the first European to achieve this feat, solidifying his place as a dominant figure in the sport.
Rory McIlroy gears up for the 2025 British Open at Royal Portrush, prioritizing practice and course familiarity to tackle the challenges ahead. The unpredictability of Portrush is anticipated.
Golf was named an Olympic sport for the first time since 1904 at the 2016 Summer Olympics.
In 1923, Bobby Jones was the youngest winner of the U.S. Open before Rory McIlroy won it in 2011 at age 22.
In November 1972, during The Troubles, Rory McIlroy's granduncle, Joe McIlroy, was shot to death by the Ulster Volunteer Force in a sectarian attack at his home.
In 1980, Jack Nicklaus jointly held the U.S. Open record of 272 before Rory McIlroy broke it in 2011.
In 1980, Jack Nicklaus won the PGA Championship by seven strokes, a record that stood until Rory McIlroy broke it in 2012.
In 1982, Rory McIlroy's uncle, Mickey McDonald, won the Ulster Senior Football Championship playing Gaelic football for Armagh GAA.
Ireland's victory in the 2007 European Amateur Team Championship was their first title in the championship since 1987.
In January 1988, Rory McIlroy's parents, Rosaleen "Rosie" McDonald and Gerry McIlroy, married at St Colmcille's Church in Holywood.
In May 1989, Rory Daniel McIlroy was born in Northern Ireland. He would later become a professional golfer.
In 1993, Lee Janzen jointly held the U.S. Open record of 272 before Rory McIlroy broke it in 2011.
In 1996, the movie "Happy Gilmore" was released.
In 1997, at age eight, Rory McIlroy watched every hole of Tiger Woods' victory at the Masters Tournament, becoming a self-described "anorak" of Woods.
From 1998 to 2013, Tiger Woods was the namesake for the EA Sports' PGA Tour video game series, before being replaced by Rory McIlroy in 2015.
In 2000, Tiger Woods jointly held the U.S. Open record of 272 before Rory McIlroy broke it in 2011. He also had a 12-under record at Pebble Beach Golf Links before McIlroy's 16-under.
In 2002, Rory McIlroy won the Ulster Boys' U15 Championship, marking an early achievement in his amateur career.
In 2003, Jim Furyk jointly held the U.S. Open record of 272 before Rory McIlroy broke it in 2011.
In 2003, Rory McIlroy won the Ulster Boys' U18 Championship, adding to his amateur achievements.
In 2004, Rory McIlroy was a member of the Irish team at the European Boys' Team Championship in Finland and part of the European team that won the Junior Ryder Cup against the United States.
In late 2004, Rory McIlroy signed a letter of intent to play collegiate golf at East Tennessee State University.
In May 2005, Rory McIlroy made his European Tour debut at the Daily Telegraph Dunlop Masters at age 16.
In 2005, Rory McIlroy became the youngest-ever winner of both the West of Ireland Championship and the Irish Close Championship.
In 2005, Rory McIlroy decided to leave school in order to fully concentrate on his golf career.
In 2005, Rory McIlroy received the Young Player of the Year award at the Belfast Telegraph Sports Awards.
In September 2012, McIlroy won the Deutsche Bank Championship and the BMW Championship. He became the first European to win four PGA Tour events in a single season and the only person other than Tiger Woods to win four events in a season since 2005.
In August 2006, Rory McIlroy won the European Amateur at Biella Golf Club, near Milan, Italy, earning an exemption to The Open Championship.
On 18 September 2007, Rory McIlroy turned professional and signed with International Sports Management, making his first professional start the following day at the Quinn Direct British Masters.
From 2007, Rory McIlroy was an ambassador for hotel chain Jumeirah.
In 2007, Rory McIlroy competed for Ireland at the European Amateur Team Championship, ultimately defeating France in the final to claim victory.
In 2007, Rory McIlroy made his major championship debut at The Open Championship, finishing as the low amateur. He ended his amateur career at the 2007 Walker Cup.
In 2007, Rory McIlroy reached number one on the World Amateur Golf Ranking as a 17-year-old and later that year turned professional, establishing himself on the European Tour.
In 2007, upon turning professional, Rory McIlroy signed with International Sports Management (ISM).
On 27 January 2008, Rory McIlroy entered the top 200 of the Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR) for the first time.
On 7 September 2008, Rory McIlroy lost in a playoff at the Omega European Masters in Crans-sur-Sierre, Switzerland, after holding a four-stroke lead into the final round.
In 2008, JP Fitzgerald became Rory McIlroy's caddie, marking the beginning of a long-term partnership.
In 2008, Rory McIlroy secured his European Tour card after a successful start to his professional career.
In 2008, Rory McIlroy started working with specialist putting coach Paul Hurrion, who identified McIlroy's over-reliance on hand-eye coordination when putting.
In 2008, Rory McIlroy won the George Best Breakthrough Prize.
In 2017, Rory McIlroy had his first winless year since 2008.
Due to ending the calendar year at 39th in the Official World Golf Ranking in 2008, Rory McIlroy earned an invitation to the 2009 Masters Tournament.
In 2009, Rory McIlroy achieved his first win on the European Tour, marking an early career milestone.
In 2009, Rory McIlroy bought a house in Moneyreagh, a small village south of Belfast, featuring a custom-made practice facility.
In 2009, Rory McIlroy tied for 3rd on debut at the PGA Championship and finished the season ranked second on the Race to Dubai, marking a successful year.
In 2009, Rory McIlroy won the Belfast Telegraph Sports Star of the Year award.
In 2009, Tiger Woods had the lowest scoring average of 68.05.
In 2009, after finding success as a professional golfer, Rory McIlroy bought his parents a house, ensuring they would not have to work again.
In late 2009, Rory McIlroy was introduced to Bob Rotella's book "Putting Out of Your Mind" to help improve his putting skills.
In 2010, Chubby Chandler, from ISM, advised Rory McIlroy to give up his PGA Tour card and prioritize the European Tour.
In 2010, Rory McIlroy achieved his first win on the PGA Tour, further establishing his professional career.
In 2010, Rory McIlroy began working with exercise physiologist Stephen McGregor to address imbalances in his body that were contributing to back problems. McGregor noted a lack of stability and reliance on arm speed in McIlroy's golf swing, focusing on strengthening his legs and core.
In 2010, Rory McIlroy shot a course-record 62 in the final round of the Quail Hollow Championship to win his first PGA Tour event, becoming the first player since Tiger Woods to win before age 21.
In 2010, Rory McIlroy tied the course record at the Open Championship and finished tied for third. He also finished in third-place at the 2010 PGA Championship, one shot outside of a playoff.
In 2010, Rory McIlroy was selected to represent Europe at the Ryder Cup, where the team regained the cup. He also announced plans to return to play full-time on the European Tour.
After winning the 2011 U.S. Open, Rory McIlroy hired security guards for his Moneyreagh property due to increased attention.
In 2011, Rory McIlroy became an ambassador for UNICEF Ireland and visited Haiti with UNICEF in June of that year.
In 2011, Rory McIlroy began dating Danish tennis player Caroline Wozniacki.
In 2011, Rory McIlroy left ISM, feeling misled, and signed with Horizon Sports Management.
In 2011, Rory McIlroy signed a multi-million dollar sponsorship agreement with Santander Bank.
In 2011, Rory McIlroy was named RTÉ Sports Person of the Year for his achievements in golf.
In 2011, Rory McIlroy was named the RTÉ Sports Person of the Year and BBC Northern Ireland Sports Personality of the Year following his U.S. Open win.
In 2011, Rory McIlroy won his first major championship at the U.S. Open, marking a significant achievement in his career.
In April 2011, Rory McIlroy led the Masters Tournament after shooting a bogey-free 65 in the first round, making him the youngest player to hold the first-round lead. After 54 holes, he held a four-stroke lead, but in the final round, he shot an 8-over-par 80, finishing in a tie for 15th, 10 strokes behind the winner.
In July 2011, Rory McIlroy struggled at the Open Championship, finishing tied for 25th. He injured his wrist at the PGA Championship. In October 2011, he won the Lake Malaren Shanghai Masters, earning the $2 million first-place prize. In December 2011, he won the UBS Hong Kong Open.
In June 2011, at the U.S. Open, Rory McIlroy shot a bogey-free 65 in the first round to take the lead. He set a record for the lowest 36-hole total in U.S. Open history (131, −11). McIlroy posted 68 in the third round, setting the 54-hole scoring record at 199 (−14). He won his first major championship title with a final round of 69, finishing with a 72-hole aggregate score of 268 (−16), a new U.S. Open record. At age 22, McIlroy became the youngest winner since 1923, and the victory lifted him to a new career-high fourth in the OWGR.
Rory McIlroy skipped the Players Championship in 2011 due to manager Chubby Chandler's aversion to the PGA Tour.
In September 2012, Rory McIlroy's house in Moneyreagh was put up for sale for £2 million.
After receiving putting instruction from former PGA Tour player Dave Stockton, Rory McIlroy credited him for the improvements in his putting following his win at the 2012 PGA Championship.
In 2012, Rory McIlroy finished second at the Abu Dhabi HSBC Golf Championship and the WGC-Accenture Match Play Championship. He won the Honda Classic, reaching the number one position in the Official World Golf Ranking for the first time in his career, becoming the second-youngest man to reach number one.
In 2012, Rory McIlroy played for Europe at the Ryder Cup, where Europe emerged victorious.
In 2012, Rory McIlroy stated that he doesn't want to be defined by the Troubles in Northern Ireland, as it's not how his generation thinks.
In 2012, Rory McIlroy stated that he regretted his 2010 decision to give up his PGA Tour card and skip the 2011 Players Championship.
In 2012, Rory McIlroy was appointed Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) for services to sport.
In 2012, Rory McIlroy won the Mark H. McCormack Award for leading the Official World Golf Ranking for the most weeks in a calendar year.
In 2012, Rory McIlroy won the PGA Championship, adding to his list of major championship victories.
In 2012, Rory McIlroy won the PGA Player of the Year, PGA Tour Player of the Year, Vardon Trophy, and Byron Nelson Award, as well as being voted the European Tour Golfer of the Year and European Tour Players' Player of the Year.
In 2012, Rory McIlroy's ambassadorship with hotel chain Jumeirah ended.
In 2012, Tiger Woods was the first golfer to surpass $100 million in official PGA Tour earnings.
In April 2012, Rory McIlroy struggled at the Masters Tournament, finishing in a tie for 40th. In May 2012, he was in contention at the Wells Fargo Championship and went to a playoff, where Rickie Fowler won.
In September 2012, Rory McIlroy participated in the Ryder Cup, picking up three points for the European team. He arrived late for his Sunday singles match but defeated Keegan Bradley, helping Europe win. In November 2012, he won the DP World Tour Championship, Dubai.
In March 2013, Rory McIlroy agreed to a contract extension with Horizon Sports Management, set to run until 2017.
In October 2013, Rory McIlroy described his contract with Horizon Sports Management as "unconscionable" and said he had been coaxed into signing it.
In December 2013, Rory McIlroy and Caroline Wozniacki became engaged.
After splitting from Horizon in 2013, Rory McIlroy created a new management company, Rory McIlroy Management Services Ltd., to manage his endorsement royalty payments.
In 2013, Rory McIlroy cancelled a trip to Haiti with UNICEF due to a conflict with the Valero Texas Open. His management team, Horizon, then donated $166,000 of his money to UNICEF without his knowledge. Advised by Caroline Wozniacki against donating to NGOs like UNICEF, McIlroy reversed the donation, upset by the unauthorized transaction.
In 2013, Rory McIlroy created The Rory Foundation, with the goal of supporting children's charities.
In 2013, Rory McIlroy discussed his options of representing Great Britain, Ireland, or Northern Ireland in the Olympics, stating he feels a connection to both Ireland and the UK.
In 2013, Rory McIlroy signed a 10-year endorsement deal with Nike worth up to $250 million to be a brand ambassador for their golf clubs, balls, and apparel. Also in 2013, McIlroy signed endorsement deals with Bose and Omega.
In December 2013, Rory McIlroy recorded his first win of the year at the Emirates Australian Open, beating Adam Scott by one stroke.
In early 2013, Rory McIlroy struggled with an equipment change after signing with Nike. In April 2013, he finished runner-up at the Valero Texas Open and tied for 25th at the Masters Tournament. He had mixed results in other major championships, and as a result, his OWGR ranking dropped.
In May 2014, Rory McIlroy ended his engagement with Caroline Wozniacki, stating that he wasn't ready for marriage.
Following his 2014 Open Championship win at Royal Liverpool, Rory McIlroy made reference to his support for Manchester United F.C. during his acceptance speech.
In 2014, Rory McIlroy led at the 2014 PGA Championship.
In 2014, Rory McIlroy played for Europe at the Ryder Cup, where Europe emerged victorious. Also in 2014, he was named RTÉ Sports Person of the Year for the second time.
In 2014, Rory McIlroy repeated his award sweep from 2012 and was named RTÉ Sports Person of the Year for a second time and BBC Northern Ireland Sports Personality of the Year for a third time.
In 2014, Rory McIlroy won both the PGA Championship and the Open Championship, marking a successful year in his career.
In 2014, Rory McIlroy won the Mark H. McCormack Award for leading the Official World Golf Ranking for the most weeks in a calendar year.
In 2014, through The Rory Foundation, Rory McIlroy pledged £1 million to the Cancer Fund for Children in Newcastle, County Down.
In August 2014, Rory McIlroy won the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational and then the PGA Championship, becoming one of only three players to win four majors by age 25.
In July 2014, Rory McIlroy won the Open Championship at Royal Liverpool Golf Club by two strokes over Rickie Fowler and Sergio García, claiming his first Open Championship and third major championship. This win placed him alongside Tiger Woods as the only golfers to win both the Silver Medal and the Claret Jug at the Open Championship.
In September 2014, Rory McIlroy participated in the Ryder Cup, finishing with a record of 2–1–2 and contributing to Europe's victory.
On the eve of the 2014 Irish Open, Rory McIlroy declared that he would represent Ireland at the Olympics.
In December 2015, Rory McIlroy and Erica Stoll became engaged while on holiday in Paris.
Before 2015, the results are not in chronological order.
In 2015, Rory McIlroy became the namesake for the EA Sports' video game "Rory McIlroy PGA Tour", replacing Tiger Woods.
In 2015, Rory McIlroy injured his ankle ligaments while playing football with friends, forcing him to withdraw from the 2015 Open Championship.
In 2015, Rory McIlroy underwent laser eye surgery to improve his vision on the golf course, after having previously used contact lenses. He said that he had struggled with reading greens and with hayfever affecting his eyes.
In 2015, Rory McIlroy was the number one golfer in the OWGR before winning in May 2020.
In 2015, Rory McIlroy won the Mark H. McCormack Award for leading the Official World Golf Ranking for the most weeks in a calendar year.
In 2015, a bitter legal battle between Rory McIlroy and Horizon Sports Management ended with an out-of-court settlement.
In April 2015, Rory McIlroy finished in solo-fourth place at the Masters Tournament. In May 2015, he won the WGC-Cadillac Match Play event and the Wells Fargo Championship, where he shot a course-record 61.
In July 2015, Rory McIlroy ruptured his left anterior talofibular ligament, leading to his withdrawal from the Open Championship and the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational. He returned to play at the PGA Championship, finishing in 17th place.
At the end of 2016, Nike withdrew from the golf equipment market. Rory McIlroy signed a $100 million endorsement deal with TaylorMade.
During 2016, The Rory 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.
Golf was an Olympic sport for the first time since 1904 at the 2016 Summer Olympics.
In March 2016, Rory McIlroy faltered at the WGC-Cadillac Championship. At the Masters Tournament, he finished tied-10th, citing pressure to complete the Grand Slam.
In May 2016, Rory McIlroy won the Irish Open and donated the winnings to charity. He withdrew from the 2016 Summer Olympics due to the Zika virus threat but expressed interest in competing at the 2020 Olympics.
In September 2016, Rory McIlroy won the Deutsche Bank Championship and the Tour Championship, earning his first FedEx Cup title. At the Ryder Cup in October 2016, he won three points but lost his singles match as the United States defeated Europe.
Rory McIlroy had a victory at the Tour Championship in 2016, marking a significant moment in his career.
In April 2017, Rory McIlroy married Erica Stoll at Ashford Castle in Cong, County Mayo.
In 2017, Rory McIlroy had a winless year, hampered by a rib injury. He took a three-month break to recuperate, dropping to 11th in the OWGR by the end of the year.
In 2017, Rory McIlroy ranked sixth in Forbes' list of the world's highest-paid athletes, earning $50 million, with $34 million from endorsements.
In 2017, Rory McIlroy revealed that he had a degenerative disc in his lumbar vertebrae, which he attributed to swinging a golf club since the age of two. He also credited exercise physiologist Stephen McGregor with helping him take better care of his body and extend his career.
In 2017, after Nike exited the golf equipment business, Rory McIlroy signed a 10-year, $200-million contract extension with Nike for apparel only, and additionally signed a 10-year, $100-million equipment deal with TaylorMade to use their clubs, ball and bag.
Rory McIlroy's contract extension with Horizon Sports Management was set to run out in 2017.
In September 2018, Rory McIlroy participated in the Ryder Cup, contributing to Team Europe's victory over Team USA with a 2–3–0 record.
In December 2018, The Rory Foundation shut down, with a spokeswoman stating that McIlroy "is adopting a private philanthropic policy".
In 2018, Rory McIlroy appeared on an episode of Amazon Prime show "The Grand Tour", racing against Paris Hilton in the "Celebrity Face-Off" segment of the show.
In 2018, Rory McIlroy played for Europe at the Ryder Cup, contributing to Europe's victory.
Since 2018, former PGA Tour player Brad Faxon has been Rory McIlroy's putting coach.
In June 2019, Rory McIlroy won the RBC Canadian Open, shooting a final-round 61, and becoming the sixth golfer to win the career Triple Crown.
In November 2019, Rory McIlroy won the WGC-HSBC Champions tournament in a playoff against Xander Schauffele in Shanghai, China.
In 2019, Rory McIlroy founded Symphony Ventures, a venture capital firm focused on healthcare, sports, and technology. He also began wearing a Whoop band in 2019.
In 2019, Rory McIlroy had a strong start to the PGA Tour season, achieving five consecutive top-6 finishes, and won the Players Championship in March with a score of −16.
In 2019, Rory McIlroy won The Players Championship, adding another significant title to his career achievements.
In 2019, Rory McIlroy won the PGA Tour Player of the Year award and the Vardon Trophy for the third time.
In May 2020, Rory McIlroy and Dustin Johnson won a charity skins game, raising around £4 million for relief efforts during the COVID-19 pandemic.
In September 2020, Rory McIlroy and Erica Stoll had a daughter.
In 2016, Rory McIlroy outlined his intention to compete at the 2020 Olympic Games.
In 2020, Rory McIlroy invested in a $100-million Series E financing round for Whoop.
In 2020, Rory McIlroy tied for 8th place at the delayed U.S. Open held in September and recorded a top-5 finish at the Masters Tournament, which was delayed until November.
In 2020, the results are not in chronological order.
In May 2021, Rory McIlroy won the Wells Fargo Championship at Quail Hollow Club, marking his 19th PGA Tour victory.
In August 2021, Rory McIlroy represented Ireland at the Olympic Games, tying for third and losing in a seven-man playoff for the bronze medal.
In October 2021, Rory McIlroy won the CJ Cup, securing his 20th PGA Tour victory and earning him life membership.
After the emergence of LIV Golf in 2022, Rory McIlroy became a vocal opponent of the Saudi-funded league and some of the prominent individuals associated with it.
In 2022, Rory McIlroy became the first person to win the FedEx Cup three times, surpassing Tiger Woods' previous record.
In 2022, Rory McIlroy defended his title at the RBC Canadian Open and finished top-10 in all four majors for the first time in his career.
In 2022, Rory McIlroy finished as runner-up at the Masters Tournament and held the first-round lead at the PGA Championship.
In 2022, Rory McIlroy founded TMRW Sports alongside Tiger Woods and Mike McCarley, launching TGL, an indoor golf league.
In 2022, Rory McIlroy won the Vardon Trophy for a fourth time, achieving the lowest scoring average since Tiger Woods in 2009.
In 2022, the Championship and Invitational were discontinued.
Before the start of the Hero Dubai Desert Classic in January 2023, Rory McIlroy refused to speak to LIV golfer Patrick Reed, stating that Reed had sent a lawyer to serve him a subpoena on Christmas Eve as part of an anti-trust lawsuit.
In 2023, Rory McIlroy finished solo-second at the U.S. Open and won the Genesis Scottish Open.
In 2023, Rory McIlroy joined the investment group of the Alpine racing team of Formula One.
In 2023, Rory McIlroy played for Europe at the Ryder Cup, contributing to Europe's victory.
In 2023, Rory McIlroy said that he is a fan of the Buffalo Bills, as his wife Erica is originally from Irondequoit, New York.
In 2023, it was announced that Rory McIlroy had paid €1 million towards the construction of a Cancer Fund for Children lodge in Cong, County Mayo.
In 2023, the Champions was discontinued.
In September 2023, Rory McIlroy played on the European team in the Ryder Cup and won his fifth Race to Dubai title in November.
Rory McIlroy featured in the sports documentary series "Full Swing", which premiered on Netflix in 2023.
In May 2024, Rory McIlroy filed for divorce from Erica Stoll in Palm Beach County, Florida.
By June 11, 2024, Rory McIlroy withdrew the divorce filing from Erica Stoll, stating that they had resolved their differences.
As of 31 December 2024, money prize figures are rounded up to nearest Euro.
During the 2024 U.S. Open, Rory McIlroy entered the final round in second-place, three strokes behind the lead, but finished one stroke behind DeChambeau. At the 2024 Open Championship, McIlroy shot 78-75 and missed the cut, extending his major championship drought to ten years.
In 2024, Rory McIlroy joined the investment group of the ticket marketplace TickPick and a funding round valued TMRW Sports at $500 million.
In 2024, Rory McIlroy took delivery of a Gulfstream G650ER, a private jet, having previously owned a Bombardier Challenger 605.
In 2024, Rory McIlroy won the European Tour Player of the Year award, now renamed the Seve Ballesteros Award, for the fourth time in his career.
In April 2024, Rory McIlroy won the Zurich Classic of New Orleans and the Wells Fargo Championship, marking his 25th win on the PGA Tour.
As of 2025, Rory McIlroy is capable of producing ball speed over 190 miles per hour (310 km/h).
In 2025, Rory McIlroy partnered with private equity firm TPG to form TPG Sports, an investment fund targeting the sports sector.
In 2025, Rory McIlroy tied for 47th at the PGA Championship and stated he had lost motivation since winning the Masters.
In 2025, Rory McIlroy won the Masters Tournament, completing his career grand slam after a 10-year drought in the majors.
In April 2025, Rory McIlroy won the Masters Tournament in a playoff, completing the career grand slam and becoming the sixth player to win each of the four major championships in the modern era.
Rory McIlroy made a cameo appearance in the 2025 film "Happy Gilmore 2", a sequel to "Happy Gilmore" (1996).
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