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 performances on both the European and PGA Tours. He achieved the world number one ranking and held it 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, he is the first European to ever achieve this prestigious feat.
May 2005: European Tour Debut
In May 2005, at the age of 16, Rory McIlroy made his European Tour debut at the Daily Telegraph Dunlop Masters.
2005: Left school to concentrate on golf.
In 2005, McIlroy decided to leave school in order to concentrate on golf.
2005: Young Player of the Year Award
In 2005, McIlroy received the Young Player of the Year award at the Belfast Telegraph Sports Awards.
2005: Rory McIlroy's PGA Tour Feat
Since 2005, Rory McIlroy became the only person other than Tiger Woods to win four PGA Tour events in a single season as of September 2012.
August 2006: European Amateur Win
In August 2006, Rory McIlroy won the European Amateur at Biella Golf Club, near Milan, Italy, earning him an exemption to The Open Championship the following year.
September 2007: Turned Professional
On 18 September 2007, Rory McIlroy turned professional and signed with International Sports Management. He made his first professional start the following day at the Quinn Direct British Masters.
2007: Became an ambassador for Jumeirah
From 2007, Rory McIlroy became an ambassador for the hotel chain Jumeirah.
2007: Major Championship Debut and Walker Cup
In 2007, Rory McIlroy made his major championship debut at The Open Championship, finishing as the low amateur. He then ended his amateur career at the Walker Cup in September.
2007: Turned Professional
In 2007, Rory McIlroy turned professional after a successful amateur career, during which he was ranked number one on the World Amateur Golf Ranking. He soon established himself on the European Tour.
2007: Signed with International Sports Management (ISM)
In 2007, upon turning professional, Rory McIlroy signed with International Sports Management (ISM), an agency founded by Chubby Chandler.
2007: Tiger Woods First FedEx Cup Win
In August 2019, McIlroy secured his second FedEx Cup title. Tiger Woods had previously won the FedEx Cup in 2007.
January 2008: Top 200 OWGR
On 27 January 2008, Rory McIlroy entered the top 200 of the Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR) for the first time.
September 2008: Omega European Masters Play-off Loss
On 7 September 2008, Rory McIlroy lost in a play-off at the Omega European Masters in Crans-sur-Sierre, Switzerland, after leading the final round.
2008: JP Fitzgerald becomes McIlroy's caddie
In 2008, JP Fitzgerald began his tenure as Rory McIlroy's caddie, a partnership that lasted until late in the 2017 season.
2008: First Winless Year
In 2008, McIlroy did not secure any wins, marking it as the first winless year in his professional career up to that point. In 2017, he matched that statistic, making it his first winless year since 2008.
2008: George Best Breakthrough Prize
In 2008, McIlroy won the George Best Breakthrough Prize.
2008: Started working with specialist coach Paul Hurrion
In 2008, Rory McIlroy began working with specialist coach Paul Hurrion due to struggles with putting.
2008: Secured European Tour card
In 2008, Rory McIlroy secured his European Tour card.
2009: Belfast Telegraph Sports Star of the Year award
In 2009, McIlroy was honored with the Belfast Telegraph Sports Star of the Year award, adding to his accolades.
2009: First European Tour Win
In 2009, Rory McIlroy achieved his first win on the European Tour.
2009: Continued success on the European Tour and first PGA Championship
In 2009, Rory McIlroy finished fifth at the BMW PGA Championship and 12th at the European Open in May, he played in his second major as a professional at the U.S. Open, where he finished in a tie for 10th, in July, McIlroy played in the Open Championship, and finished T-47 and in August, he tied for 3rd on debut at the PGA Championship. McIlroy finished the 2009 season ranked second on the Race to Dubai, behind Lee Westwood, and in November he entered the top 10 of the world rankings for the first time and represented Ireland at the World Cup, alongside Graeme McDowell.
2009: Masters Tournament Invitation
In 2009, Rory McIlroy's ranking of 39th in the OWGR earned him an invitation to the Masters Tournament.
2009: Tiger Woods Second FedEx Cup Win
In August 2019, McIlroy secured his second FedEx Cup title. Tiger Woods had previously won the FedEx Cup in 2009.
2009: Introduced to "Putting Out of Your Mind"
In late 2009, Rory McIlroy was introduced to Bob Rotella's book "Putting Out of Your Mind" to help with his putting.
2010: Advised to give up PGA Tour card
In 2010, Chubby Chandler advised Rory McIlroy to give up his PGA Tour card and prioritize the European Tour.
2010: First PGA Tour Win
In 2010, Rory McIlroy achieved his first win on the PGA Tour.
2010: Tied Course Record and Third-Place Finishes
In 2010, Rory McIlroy tied the course record at the Open Championship with a 9-under-par 63 on the opening day and finished third at the PGA Championship.
2010: Ryder Cup Selection
In 2010, Rory McIlroy was selected as an automatic qualifier to represent Europe at the Ryder Cup. He tied his Sunday singles match against Stewart Cink, which contributed to Europe regaining the cup with a score of 14.5–13.5. Following the Ryder Cup, he announced he would return to play full-time on the European Tour.
2011: UNICEF Ireland Ambassador
In 2011, Rory McIlroy became an ambassador for UNICEF Ireland and visited Haiti with UNICEF in June of that year.
2011: Left ISM and signed with Horizon Sports Management
In 2011, Rory McIlroy left ISM, feeling misled by Chubby Chandler, and signed with Horizon Sports Management, following Graeme McDowell.
2011: Signed a multi-million dollar agreement with Santander Bank
In 2011, Rory McIlroy signed a multi-million dollar sponsorship agreement with Santander Bank.
2011: First Major Championship
In 2011, Rory McIlroy won his first major championship at the U.S. Open.
2011: 2011 Masters Tournament
In April 2011, Rory McIlroy led the Masters Tournament after the first round with a bogey-free 65, becoming the youngest player to hold the first-round lead at the Masters at the time. Despite leading by four strokes after 54 holes, he shot an 8-over-par 80 in the final round, finishing in a tie for 15th, 10 strokes behind the winner, Charl Schwartzel.
2011: 2011 Season Performances and Victories
In July 2011, Rory McIlroy struggled at the Open Championship, finishing tied for 25th. He also injured his wrist at the PGA Championship. However, in October 2011, McIlroy won the Lake Malaren Shanghai Masters, earning $2 million, and in December, he won the UBS Hong Kong Open.
2011: 2011 U.S. Open Victory
In June 2011, at the U.S. Open held at Congressional Country Club, Rory McIlroy shot a bogey-free 65 to take the first-round lead. He set a record for the lowest 36-hole total in U.S. Open history (131, −11), and he also set the 54-hole scoring record at 199 (−14), building an eight-stroke lead. McIlroy shot a final round of 69 to earn his first major championship title, eight strokes ahead of Jason Day. His 72-hole aggregate score of 268 (−16) was a new U.S. Open record. At age 22, McIlroy became the youngest winner since 1923.
2012: Credited Dave Stockton for Putting Improvements
After winning the 2012 PGA Championship, Rory McIlroy credited Dave Stockton for the improvements in his putting.
2012: Ended ambassadorship with Jumeirah
In 2012, Rory McIlroy ended his ambassadorship with the hotel chain Jumeirah.
2012: Reaching World Number One
In 2012, Rory McIlroy finished solo-second at the Abu Dhabi HSBC Golf Championship. At the WGC-Accenture Match Play Championship in February, he was runner-up. The following week, McIlroy won the Honda Classic, reaching the number one position in the Official World Golf Ranking for the first time in his career at age 22.
2012: Ryder Cup Win
In 2012, Rory McIlroy played for Europe at the Ryder Cup, with Europe winning.
2012: 2012 Ryder Cup and DP World Tour Championship
In 2012, Rory McIlroy topped the qualification standings for the Ryder Cup and picked up three points for the European team, defeating Keegan Bradley in his Sunday singles match to help Europe record a comeback win. He also won the DP World Tour Championship, Dubai in November, making birdie on the last five holes.
2012: PGA Championship Win
In 2012, Rory McIlroy won the PGA Championship, adding to his major championship wins.
2012: 2012 Masters and Wells Fargo Championship
In April 2012, Rory McIlroy finished in a tie for 40th at the Masters Tournament after struggling on the weekend. In May 2012, he contended at the Wells Fargo Championship, ultimately losing in a playoff to Rickie Fowler.
2012: First Ryder Cup Away Victory Since 2012
In September 2025, McIlroy participated in the Ryder Cup, where Europe defeated the United States. This was the first away victory in a Ryder Cup since 2012.
March 2013: Agreed to contract extension with Horizon
In March 2013, Rory McIlroy agreed to a contract extension with Horizon Sports Management, set to run until 2017.
2013: Creation of The Rory Foundation
In 2013, Rory McIlroy created The Rory Foundation, with the stated goal of supporting children's charities.
2013: Created Rory McIlroy Management Services Ltd.
In 2013, Rory McIlroy created a new management company, Rory McIlroy Management Services Ltd., based in Dublin, after splitting from Horizon.
2013: Signed endorsement deal with Nike, Bose and Omega
In 2013, Rory McIlroy signed a 10-year endorsement deal with Nike, as well as endorsement deals with Bose and Omega.
2013: Equipment Change Struggles and Tournament Results
In 2013, Rory McIlroy struggled with an equipment change after signing an endorsement deal with Nike in January. He missed the cut at the Abu Dhabi HSBC Golf Championship and withdrew from the Honda Classic. He finished runner-up at the Valero Texas Open and tied for 25th at the Masters Tournament. He tied for 41st at the U.S. Open, missed the cut at the Open Championship, and tied for 8th at the PGA Championship.
2013: Downturn in Form and Australian Open Victory
In 2013, as a result of his downturn in form, Rory McIlroy dropped from first to sixth in the OWGR. He recorded his first win of the year in December, at the Emirates Australian Open, beating Adam Scott by one stroke.
2013: Missed Cut at the 2013 Open Championship
Rory McIlroy missed the cut at the 2013 Open Championship, ending a streak of 22 consecutive events on the PGA Tour. He achieved this feat in January 2015.
2014: First 54-Hole Outright Lead at a Major Since 2014 PGA Championship
At the 2025 Masters Tournament, McIlroy held a two-stroke lead after 54 holes, marking his first 54-hole outright lead at a major since the 2014 PGA Championship.
2014: Multiple Major Championship Wins
In 2014, Rory McIlroy won both the PGA Championship and The Open Championship, marking multiple major championship wins in one year.
2014: WGC-Bridgestone Invitational and PGA Championship Victories
In 2014, Rory McIlroy won the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational, and he also won the PGA Championship at Valhalla Golf Club, collecting his fourth major championship victory. He joined Jack Nicklaus and Tiger Woods as the only three players to win four majors by age 25.
2014: Pledged donation to Cancer Fund for Children
In 2014, through The Rory Foundation, Rory McIlroy pledged £1 million to the Cancer Fund for Children in Newcastle, County Down.
2014: 2014 Ryder Cup Performance
In September 2014, Rory McIlroy played in all five sessions of the Ryder Cup. He finished with a record of 2–1–2, including a win in his Sunday singles match against Rickie Fowler, as Europe won by a score of 16.5–11.5.
2015: Became namesake for EA Sports' Rory McIlroy PGA Tour
In 2015, Rory McIlroy became the namesake for the EA Sports' video game Rory McIlroy PGA Tour, replacing Tiger Woods.
2015: 2015 Season Achievements
In 2015, Rory McIlroy finished in solo-fourth place at the Masters Tournament. In May, he won the WGC-Cadillac Match Play event and the Wells Fargo Championship, shooting a course-record 61 at Quail Hollow Club.
2015: Returned to World Number One in 2020
In 2020, McIlroy began the year with four consecutive top-5 finishes on the PGA Tour, which brought him back to world number one in the OWGR for the first time since 2015.
2015: Injury and Return to Competition
In July 2015, Rory McIlroy ruptured his left anterior talofibular ligament while playing soccer, leading to him withdrawing from the Open Championship and the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational. He made his return at the PGA Championship, finishing in 17th place.
2016: Nike's Exit from Golf Equipment Market and TaylorMade Deal
At the end of 2016, after Nike announced their withdrawal from the golf equipment market, Rory McIlroy signed a $100 million endorsement deal with TaylorMade.
2016: Foundation donations
During 2016, The Rory Foundation dispensed a total of £1.15 million to charities in Ireland and the United Kingdom, with £862,543 donated directly by Rory McIlroy.
2016: 2016 WGC-Cadillac Championship and Masters Tournament
In 2016, Rory McIlroy faltered at the WGC-Cadillac Championship, finishing two shots behind Adam Scott. At the Masters Tournament, he shot a five-over 77 in the third round and ultimately finished tied-10th, citing the pressure of completing the Grand Slam as a factor.
2016: Deutsche Bank Championship, Tour Championship, and Ryder Cup
In 2016, Rory McIlroy won the Deutsche Bank Championship and the Tour Championship, earning his first FedEx Cup title. At the Ryder Cup, he won three points when paired with Thomas Pieters. In the Sunday singles, he lost to Patrick Reed as the United States defeated Europe.
2016: Last Win Before 2018
In March 2018, McIlroy won the Arnold Palmer Invitational, marking his first win since the 2016 Tour Championship.
2016: 2016 Irish Open Victory and Olympics Withdrawal
In May 2016, Rory McIlroy won his home Irish Open and donated the €666,000 winner's cheque to charity. He withdrew from the 2016 Summer Olympics due to the threat of the Zika virus, later admitting he had been wrong to dismiss the event's success. McIlroy then stated he would participate in the 2020 Olympic Games.
2017: Winless Year and Rib Injury
In 2017, McIlroy had his first winless year since 2008. A rib injury, initially sustained at the BMW SA Open in January, hampered him throughout the season. Despite top-10 finishes at the Masters Tournament and Open Championship, he finished tied-63rd at the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship in October and dropped to 11th in the OWGR by year's end, after starting at 2nd.
2017: Signed contract extension with Nike and equipment deal with TaylorMade
In 2017, Rory McIlroy signed a 10-year contract extension with Nike for apparel only, and signed a 10-year equipment deal with TaylorMade.
2017: Parted Ways with Caddie JP Fitzgerald
Late in the 2017 season, McIlroy ended his partnership with his caddie since 2008, JP Fitzgerald. He then hired Harry Diamond, an Irish amateur international golfer and childhood friend, as his new caddie after considering other candidates such as Jim "Bones" Mackay and Steve Williams.
March 2018: Won Arnold Palmer Invitational
In March 2018, McIlroy won the Arnold Palmer Invitational with a final-round 64. This victory marked his first win since the 2016 Tour Championship.
September 2018: Competed in the Ryder Cup
In September 2018, McIlroy participated in the Ryder Cup, where he went 2–3–0, including a loss in the Sunday singles to Justin Thomas. Team Europe defeated Team USA 17.5–10.5 to win the Ryder Cup.
December 2018: Shutdown of The Rory Foundation
In December 2018, The Rory Foundation shut down, with a spokeswoman stating that Rory McIlroy "is adopting a private philanthropic policy".
2018: Ryder Cup Win
In 2018, Rory McIlroy played for Europe at the Ryder Cup, with Europe winning.
2018: Brad Faxon becomes putting coach
In 2018, former PGA Tour player Brad Faxon became Rory McIlroy's putting coach.
June 2019: Won the RBC Canadian Open and Career Triple Crown
In June 2019, McIlroy won the RBC Canadian Open with a final-round 61, becoming the sixth golfer to win the career Triple Crown (the Open Championship, the U.S. Open, and the Canadian Open).
November 2019: Won WGC-HSBC Champions and Declined Saudi International Invitation
In November 2019, McIlroy won the WGC-HSBC Champions tournament in a playoff against Xander Schauffele in Shanghai, China. He later declined an invitation to the European Tour's Saudi International tournament, citing morality and Saudi Arabia's human rights record.
2019: PGA Tour Success and Players Championship Win
In 2019, McIlroy started the PGA Tour strongly with five consecutive top-6 finishes, including a runner-up at the WGC-Mexico Championship in February. He then won the Players Championship in March and joined Jack Nicklaus and Tiger Woods as the only players to win four majors and 15 PGA Tour titles before age 30.
2019: Founded Symphony Ventures
In 2019, Rory McIlroy founded Symphony Ventures, a venture capital firm, alongside Sean O'Flaherty, focusing on healthcare, sports, and technology.
2019: The Players Championship Win
In 2019, Rory McIlroy won The Players Championship, adding another significant title to his career achievements.
May 2020: Won Charity Skins Game
In May 2020, Amidst the suspension of professional tournaments due to the COVID-19 pandemic, McIlroy, alongside Dustin Johnson, won a charity skins game, raising around £4 million for relief efforts.
2020: Intention to Compete at 2020 Olympic Games
Following the 2016 Summer Olympics, Rory McIlroy expressed his intention to compete at the 2020 Olympic Games.
2020: Top Finishes at U.S. Open and Masters Tournament
In 2020, McIlroy finished in a tie for 8th place at the delayed U.S. Open held in September and recorded a top-5 finish at the delayed Masters Tournament in November.
2020: Invested in Whoop
In 2020, Rory McIlroy invested in a $100-million Series E financing round for Whoop, a company whose band he started wearing in 2019.
May 2021: Won Wells Fargo Championship
In May 2021, McIlroy secured his 19th PGA Tour victory by winning the Wells Fargo Championship at Quail Hollow Club by one stroke. This was his third win at Quail Hollow.
August 2021: Represented Ireland at the Olympic Games
In August 2021, McIlroy represented Ireland at the Olympic Games. He tied for third after 72 holes but lost in a seven-man playoff for the bronze medal.
October 2021: Won CJ Cup and Earned Life Membership
In October 2021, McIlroy won the CJ Cup with weekend rounds of 62-66. This victory marked his 20th PGA Tour win, earning him life membership.
2022: RBC Canadian Open Victory and Top-10 Finishes in All Majors
In 2022, McIlroy defended his title at the RBC Canadian Open. Additionally, he finished top-10 in all four majors for the first time in his career, including a third-place finish at the Open Championship.
2022: Runner-Up Finish at the Masters Tournament
In 2022, McIlroy had a strong year, finishing as runner-up at the Masters Tournament with a final-round 64, his best finish at the Masters. He also held the first-round lead at the PGA Championship and ultimately finished 8th.
2022: Three-Time FedEx Cup Winner
In 2022, Rory McIlroy became the first person to win the FedEx Cup three times, surpassing Tiger Woods' two.
2022: Founded TMRW Sports
In 2022, Rory McIlroy founded TMRW Sports alongside Tiger Woods and Mike McCarley.
2023: Ryder Cup Victory and Fifth Race to Dubai Title
In 2023, McIlroy contributed to the European team's victory at the Ryder Cup. He also won his fifth Race to Dubai title, moving to third for most season-long titles won on the European Tour.
2023: U.S. Open Runner-Up and Genesis Scottish Open Win
In 2023, McIlroy finished solo-second at the U.S. Open and then won the Genesis Scottish Open. He tied for sixth at the Open Championship.
2023: Hero Dubai Desert Classic Win and Masters Missed Cut
In 2023, McIlroy started the year by winning the Hero Dubai Desert Classic. He later missed the cut at the Masters Tournament in April but finished tied-7th at the PGA Championship in May.
2023: Joined investment group of Alpine racing team
In 2023, Rory McIlroy joined the investment group of the Alpine racing team of Formula One.
2023: Ryder Cup Win
In 2023, Rory McIlroy played for Europe at the Ryder Cup, with Europe winning.
2023: Featured in Full Swing
In 2023, Rory McIlroy was featured in the sports documentary series "Full Swing", which premiered on Netflix.
2023: Donation towards Cancer Fund for Children lodge
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.
2024: U.S. Open Disappointment and Missed Cut at the Open Championship
During the 2024 U.S. Open, McIlroy finished one stroke behind DeChambeau after bogeying three of the final four holes. At the 2024 Open Championship, McIlroy missed the cut, extending his major championship drought.
2024: Zurich Classic and Wells Fargo Championship Wins
In 2024, McIlroy won his first title of the season at the Zurich Classic of New Orleans, a team event with Shane Lowry. He then won the Wells Fargo Championship for the fourth time.
2024: Invested in TickPick
In 2024, Rory McIlroy invested in the ticket marketplace TickPick.
2025: Loss of Motivation After Masters Win
Following his Masters win in April 2025, McIlroy stated he had lost motivation, citing a need to find another 'mountain to climb'. He tied for 47th at the PGA Championship, missed a cut at the RBC Canadian Open, and tied for 19th at the U.S. Open.
2025: Second Genesis Scottish Open, Amgen Irish Open win and Ryder Cup performance
In 2025, McIlroy finished runner-up at the Genesis Scottish Open and won the Amgen Irish Open after a playoff. He also played in the Ryder Cup, contributing to Europe's victory.
2025: Cameo in Happy Gilmore 2
In 2025, Rory McIlroy made a cameo appearance in the film "Happy Gilmore 2", which is a sequel to the 1996 film "Happy Gilmore".
2025: Partnered with TPG to form TPG Sports
In 2025, Rory McIlroy partnered with private equity firm TPG to form TPG Sports, an investment fund targeting the sports sector.
2025: Ryder Cup Win
In 2025, Rory McIlroy played for Europe at the Ryder Cup, with Europe winning.
2025: Masters Tournament Win
In 2025, Rory McIlroy won the Masters Tournament to complete the career grand slam after a 10-year drought in the majors.
2025: Won the Masters Tournament and Completed the Career Grand Slam
In April 2025, McIlroy won the Masters Tournament after a playoff, completing the career grand slam. He became the sixth player to win each of the four major championships in the modern era.
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