Career Timeline of Rory McIlroy: Major Achievements and Milestones
Discover the career path of Rory McIlroy, from the first major opportunity to industry-changing achievements.
Rory McIlroy is a highly accomplished Northern Irish professional golfer, renowned for his membership in both the European and PGA Tours. He achieved the world number one ranking and maintained it for over 100 weeks. McIlroy stands alone as the only three-time FedEx Cup champion, exceeding Tiger Woods' previous record. His major championship victories include the 2011 U.S. Open, 2012 PGA Championship, 2014 Open Championship, and 2014 PGA Championship. He is one of only three golfers, alongside Jack Nicklaus and Tiger Woods, to secure four major titles before turning 25.
1960: Reaching 20 PGA Tour wins before age 33
In 1960, Rory McIlroy became only the sixth player since that year to achieve 20 PGA Tour wins before turning 33, highlighting his early career success and dominance.
2004: European Boys' Team Championship and Junior Ryder Cup
In 2004, at the age of 15, Rory McIlroy was a member of the Irish team at the European Boys' Team Championship and of Europe's winning Junior Ryder Cup team against the United States in Ohio.
July 2005: Course Record at Royal Portrush
In July 2005, at age 16, Rory McIlroy shot a new competitive course record score of 61 on the Dunluce links of Royal Portrush Golf Club.
2005: First European Tour Event
A few days after turning 16, Rory McIlroy made his first appearance in a European Tour event when he took part in the 2005 British Masters.
2005: Youngest Winner of West of Ireland Championship and Irish Close Championship
In 2005, Rory McIlroy became the youngest-ever winner of both the West of Ireland Championship and the Irish Close Championship.
2005: European Amateur Team Championship
In 2005, Rory McIlroy, at 16 years old, was part of the combined Northern Ireland and Republic of Ireland team at the European Amateur Team Championship.
October 2006: Eisenhower Trophy
In October 2006, Rory McIlroy represented Ireland in the Eisenhower Trophy, which is the Amateur World Team Championship.
2006: Retained West of Ireland Championship and Irish Close Championship Wins
In 2006, Rory McIlroy retained the West of Ireland Championship and followed that up with back-to-back wins at the Irish Close Championship.
February 2007: Top World Amateur Golf Ranking
On February 6, 2007, Rory McIlroy became the second man to top the World Amateur Golf Ranking.
September 2007: Turned Professional
On September 18, 2007, Rory McIlroy turned professional, the day before the Quinn Direct British Masters.
2007: Ambassador for Jumeirah Group
In 2007, McIlroy became an ambassador for the Jumeirah Group.
2007: Open Championship Debut and Silver Medal
In 2007, Rory McIlroy made his first major championship entry at the Open Championship at Carnoustie, finishing as the highest finishing amateur and winning the silver medal.
2007: Top World Amateur Golf Ranking and Turned Professional
In 2007, Rory McIlroy topped the World Amateur Golf Ranking for one week as a 17-year-old and later that year, he turned professional.
2007: Walker Cup
In 2007, Rory McIlroy was part of the Great Britain & Ireland team at the Walker Cup, held at the Royal County Down Golf Club.
January 2008: Top 200 World Golf Ranking
On January 27, 2008, Rory McIlroy entered the top 200 of the Official World Golf Ranking for the first time.
September 2008: Omega European Masters Play-off Loss
On September 7, 2008, Rory McIlroy finished in a tie for first place at the Omega European Masters but lost in a play-off.
November 2008: Highest World Ranking Position
After finishing second in the UBS Hong Kong Open in November 2008, Rory McIlroy attained his highest world ranking position of 50.
November 2008: End of European Tour Season
In November 2008, Rory McIlroy finished the European Tour season with six top-10 placements and ranked 79th in the World Golf Ranking.
2008: Secured Card for the 2008 European Tour
After turning professional in September 2007, Rory McIlroy secured his card for the 2008 European Tour by finishing in a tie for 4th place at the Open de Madrid Valle Romano.
April 2009: First Masters Tournament Appearance
In April 2009, Rory McIlroy made his first Masters Tournament appearance, his first major championship as a professional, finishing tied for 20th place.
November 2009: Top 10 World Ranking and PGA Tour Announcement
In November 2009, Rory McIlroy entered the top 10 of the world rankings for the first time and announced that he would join the American-based PGA Tour for the 2010 season.
2009: Top-10 Finish at the U.S. Open
In 2009, Rory McIlroy achieved his first top-10 finish in a major at the U.S. Open, finishing in a tie for 10th.
2009: First European Tour Win
In 2009, Rory McIlroy achieved his first win on the European Tour.
2009: WGC-Accenture Match Play Championship Quarterfinals
In 2009, Rory McIlroy reached the quarterfinals of the WGC-Accenture Match Play Championship.
July 2010: Record-Tying Round at the Open Championship
On July 15, 2010, Rory McIlroy shot a 9-under-par 63 on the opening day of the Open Championship, tying the course record and achieving the lowest-ever first round score in the history of the Open Championship.
October 2010: Ryder Cup Win
On October 4, 2010, Rory McIlroy won a crucial half-point to help Europe regain the Ryder Cup.
2010: Ryder Cup Win
In 2010, Rory McIlroy played for Europe at the Ryder Cup against the United States, with Europe winning.
June 2011: Visit to Haiti with UNICEF
In June 2011, McIlroy made his first visit to Haiti with UNICEF Ireland, highlighting his involvement in humanitarian and charitable activities.
June 2011: U.S. Open Victory
On June 19, 2011, Rory McIlroy achieved his first major championship victory at the U.S. Open, setting a new 72-hole aggregate score record and becoming the youngest winner since Bobby Jones in 1923.
December 2011: Won the UBS Hong Kong Open
In December 2011, Rory McIlroy won the UBS Hong Kong Open by two strokes.
2011: Leaves International Sports Management
In 2011, McIlroy ended his association with International Sports Management (ISM), marking a change in his management representation.
2011: RTÉ Sports Person of the Year
In 2011, McIlroy won the RTÉ Sports Person of the Year.
2011: U.S. Open Win
In 2011, Rory McIlroy won the U.S. Open, marking his first major championship victory.
2011: Youngest to Reach €10 Million on European Tour
In 2011, at age 22, Rory McIlroy became the youngest player ever to reach €10 million in career earnings on the European Tour.
2011: Duplicated Luke Donald's 2011 feat
Rory McIlroy duplicated Luke Donald's 2011 feat of winning both the PGA Tour and European Tour money titles in the same year.
2011: Won the 2011 U.S. Open
Rory McIlroy won the 2011 U.S. Open, becoming the third European to win three different majors.
August 2012: Won the 2012 PGA Championship
On 12 August 2012, Rory McIlroy won the 2012 PGA Championship at Kiawah Island, South Carolina, by eight strokes, setting a margin-of-victory record for the PGA Championship. He also regained the world's number one ranking.
2012: Sweeping Awards and Recognition
In 2012, McIlroy had a year of significant recognition, leading the PGA Tour money list and winning the PGA Player of the Year, PGA Tour Player of the Year, Vardon Trophy, and Byron Nelson Award. He also won the Race to Dubai, was voted the European Tour Golfer of the Year, won the Mark H. McCormack Award, and a Laureus World Sports Award.
2012: End of ambassadorship for Jumeirah Group
In 2012, McIlroy's ambassadorship for Jumeirah Group ended.
2012: Michael Bannon goes full-time with McIlroy
In 2012, Michael Bannon, who had been working with McIlroy since childhood, started working full-time with him, indicating a more dedicated coaching arrangement.
2012: Youngest to Reach $10 Million on PGA Tour
In 2012, Rory McIlroy became the youngest player to reach $10 million in career earnings on the PGA Tour.
2012: Ryder Cup Win
In 2012, Rory McIlroy played for Europe at the Ryder Cup against the United States, with Europe winning.
2012: PGA Championship Win
In 2012, Rory McIlroy won the PGA Championship, adding to his major championship titles.
2012: Won the 2012 PGA Championship
Rory McIlroy won the 2012 PGA Championship, becoming the third European to win three different majors.
January 2013: Nike Endorsement Deal
In January 2013, McIlroy signed a significant endorsement deal with Nike, speculated to be around $100 million, highlighting his marketability and commercial appeal.
2013: Replaced Tiger Woods
In 2013, EA Sports transitioned from Tiger Woods to Rory McIlroy as the namesake for their PGA Tour video game series.
2013: Creation of Rory McIlroy Management Services Ltd
In 2013, McIlroy established Rory McIlroy Management Services Ltd, managed by Donal Casey, to handle royalty payments from his endorsements, indicating a move towards managing his business affairs.
2013: Won the 2013 Emirates Australian Open
In 2013, Rory McIlroy won the Emirates Australian Open on the 72nd hole, beating Adam Scott by one stroke.
June 2014: Declared Representation of Ireland in the 2016 Olympics
In June 2014, McIlroy declared that he would represent Ireland in the 2016 Olympic Summer Games, where golf was reintroduced as an Olympic event.
2014: Sweeping PGA Tour awards and other accolades
In 2014, McIlroy again swept the PGA Tour awards, earning the Arnold Palmer Award, PGA Player of the Year, PGA Tour Player of the Year, Vardon Trophy, and Byron Nelson Award. He also secured the Race to Dubai, was voted the European Tour Golfer of the Year, and won the Mark H. McCormack Award. Additionally, he was awarded the RTÉ Sports Person of the Year and BBC Northern Ireland Sports Personality of the Year.
2014: Chose to Represent Ireland
In 2014, McIlroy made the final decision to represent Ireland in the Olympics.
2014: Ambassador for PGA Junior League Golf
In 2014, McIlroy was announced as an official ambassador for PGA Junior League Golf, underscoring his commitment to promoting youth involvement in golf.
2014: Ryder Cup Win
In 2014, Rory McIlroy played for Europe at the Ryder Cup against the United States, with Europe winning.
2014: Open Championship and PGA Championship Wins
In 2014, Rory McIlroy won both The Open Championship and the PGA Championship, marking a successful year in major championships.
2014: Won the 2014 PGA Championship
In 2014, Rory McIlroy won the 2014 PGA Championship at Valhalla in Louisville, Kentucky, marking his fourth major championship victory.
2015: European Tour Golfer of the Year
In 2015, McIlroy was shortlisted for the Laureus World Sportsman of the Year and won the European Tour Golfer of the Year for the third time.
2015: EA Sports' video game Rory McIlroy PGA Tour
In 2015, Rory McIlroy became the namesake for EA Sports' video game Rory McIlroy PGA Tour, replacing Tiger Woods.
2015: Won the Omega Dubai Desert Classic and the WGC-Cadillac Match Play
In 2015, Rory McIlroy won the European Tour's Omega Dubai Desert Classic for a second time and he won the WGC-Cadillac Match Play event held at TPC Harding Park in San Francisco. He also finished fourth at the 2015 Masters Tournament.
2016: 2016 Ryder Cup
At the 2016 Ryder Cup, Rory McIlroy played five matches and won three points, all when paired with Thomas Pieters. He lost his Sunday singles match to Patrick Reed.
2016: Signed with TaylorMade
At the end of 2016, after Nike's withdrawal from the golf equipment market, Rory McIlroy signed a $100 million endorsement deal with TaylorMade.
2016: Won the 2016 Tour Championship and FedEx Cup
At the final event of the PGA Tour season, the 2016 Tour Championship, Rory McIlroy won in a playoff and secured the FedEx Cup and a $10 million bonus.
2016: Representation of Ireland in the Olympics
In 2016, McIlroy was considering representing Ireland at the Olympic Summer Games.
2016: Ryder Cup Appearance
In 2016, Rory McIlroy played for Europe against the United States at the Ryder Cup.
2016: Won the Irish Open and Deutsche Bank Championship
In 2016, Rory McIlroy won his home Irish Open and gave the winner's cheque to charity. On 5 September, he won the Deutsche Bank Championship in Norton, Massachusetts.
2017: Sixth Highest-Paid Sportsperson
In 2017, McIlroy was ranked as the joint sixth highest-paid sportsperson globally by Forbes, earning US$50 million, with $34 million coming from endorsements, highlighting his financial success and marketability.
2017: Nike Apparel Deal and TaylorMade Equipment Deal
In 2017, after Nike exited the golf equipment business, McIlroy signed a 10-year contract extension with Nike for apparel, and also signed a 10-year equipment deal with TaylorMade.
March 2018: Won the Arnold Palmer Invitational
On 18 March 2018, Rory McIlroy won the Arnold Palmer Invitational with a final-round 64, marking his first win since winning the Tour Championship in 2016.
September 2018: Participated in the 2018 Ryder Cup
In September 2018, Rory McIlroy qualified for the European team participating in the 2018 Ryder Cup. Team Europe beat Team USA 17 1/2 to 10 1/2.
2018: Brad Faxon becomes putting coach
In 2018, Brad Faxon, a former PGA Tour Player known for his putting skills, became McIlroy's putting coach, indicating a change in McIlroy's training and coaching staff.
2018: Ryder Cup Win
In 2018, Rory McIlroy played for Europe at the Ryder Cup against the United States, with Europe winning.
June 2019: Won the 2019 RBC Canadian Open
On 9 June 2019, Rory McIlroy won the RBC Canadian Open by 7 strokes. He became the sixth golfer to win the career Triple Crown.
August 2019: Won the Tour Championship and FedEx Cup
On 25 August 2019, Rory McIlroy clinched his second season-long FedEx Cup by winning the Tour Championship and was named the 2018–19 PGA Tour Player of the Year.
November 2019: Won the WGC-HSBC Champions
On 3 November 2019, Rory McIlroy won the WGC-HSBC Champions tournament in a playoff against Xander Schauffele.
2019: PGA Tour Player of the Year
In 2019, McIlroy received the PGA Tour Player of the Year award for the third time, adding to his previous wins. He also won the Vardon Trophy and Byron Nelson Award for a third time.
May 2020: Charity Skins Game Win
On 17 May 2020, Rory McIlroy, alongside Dustin Johnson, secured a win in a charity skins game, winning £1.53 million for coronavirus relief funds.
2021: Ryder Cup Appearance
In 2021, Rory McIlroy played for Europe against the United States at the Ryder Cup.
2021: 2021 Ryder Cup
In September 2021, Rory McIlroy played on the European team in the 2021 Ryder Cup at Whistling Straits. The US team won 19–9, and McIlroy went 1–3–0.
2022: Wins the Vardon Trophy and Byron Nelson Award
In 2022, McIlroy secured the Vardon Trophy and Byron Nelson Award for a fourth time, marking another achievement in his successful career.
February 2023: Appearance in Full Swing
In February 2023, McIlroy appeared in the sports documentary series Full Swing, which premiered on Netflix, showcasing his life and career to a broader audience.
September 2023: Ryder Cup Victory
In September 2023, McIlroy participated in the Ryder Cup playing on the European team at Marco Simone Golf and Country Club in Rome, Italy. The European team won the Ryder Cup with a score of 16.5–11.5, and McIlroy contributed with a 4–1–0 record, which included a win in his Sunday singles match.
2023: Investment in Alpine Racing Team
In 2023, McIlroy joined the investment group of the Alpine racing team of Formula One, marking his involvement in motorsports and business ventures beyond golf.
2023: Ryder Cup Win
In 2023, Rory McIlroy played for Europe at the Ryder Cup against the United States, with Europe winning.
2024: Wins Wells Fargo Championship, Zurich Classic of New Orleans, and Hero Dubai Desert Classic
In 2024, McIlroy won his first title of the season at the Zurich Classic of New Orleans with Shane Lowry. He also secured his fourth victory at the Wells Fargo Championship. He also won the Hero Dubai Desert Classic, trailing by 11 entering Saturday, then shooting a nine-under 63, and winning by one stroke.
2025: Wins AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am
In 2025, McIlroy won the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am, his first PGA Tour event of the year, finishing with a score of −21 and beating Shane Lowry by two strokes.
