History of Rory McIlroy in Timeline
Rory McIlroy is a highly accomplished Northern Irish professional golfer. He has 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, and the first European, to complete a modern career Grand Slam. He competes on both the European and PGA Tours, solidifying his position as one of the sport's elite players.
1904: Golf at the Summer Olympics
Golf was named an Olympic sport for the first time since 1904 at the 2016 Summer Olympics
1972: Death of Joe McIlroy
In 1972, during the Troubles, Rory McIlroy's great uncle Joe McIlroy was shot to death by the Ulster Volunteer Force in a sectarian attack.
1982: Uncle's Championship Win
In 1982, Rory McIlroy's uncle, Mickey McDonald, won the Ulster Senior Football Championship playing Gaelic football for Armagh GAA.
1987: Ireland's Previous Championship Win
The 2007 European Amateur Team Championship win was Ireland's first title in the championship since 1987.
January 1988: Parents' Wedding
In January 1988, Rory McIlroy's parents, Rosaleen and Gerry McIlroy, married at St Colmcille's Church in Holywood. Both were aged 27.
May 1989: Birth in Holywood
In May 1989, Rory McIlroy was born in Holywood, County Down, Northern Ireland.
May 1989: Rory McIlroy Born
On May 4, 1989, Rory Daniel McIlroy was born. He is a Northern Irish professional golfer.
1996: Happy Gilmore Movie
Rory McIlroy made a cameo appearance in the 2025 film Happy Gilmore 2, a sequel to Happy Gilmore (1996).
1997: Inspired by Tiger Woods' victory
In 1997, Rory McIlroy, as a child, was inspired by Tiger Woods' victory at the Masters Tournament, stating he watched every hole.
1998: Tiger Woods PGA Tour
From 1998 to 2013, Tiger Woods was the namesake for the EA Sports' video game series.
2002: Ulster Boys' U15 Championship Win
In 2002, Rory McIlroy won the Ulster Boys' U15 Championship.
2003: Ulster Boys' U18 Championship Win
In 2003, Rory McIlroy won the Ulster Boys' U18 Championship.
2004: Irish Team Member
In 2004, Rory McIlroy was a member of the Irish team at the European Boys' Team Championship in Finland and the European team which won the Junior Ryder Cup against the United States.
2004: Signed Letter of Intent
In late 2004, Rory McIlroy signed a letter of intent to play collegiate golf at East Tennessee State University.
May 2005: European Tour debut
In May 2005, Rory McIlroy made his European Tour debut at the Daily Telegraph Dunlop Masters.
2005: Wins West of Ireland and Irish Close Championships
In 2005, Rory McIlroy became the youngest-ever winner of both the West of Ireland Championship and the Irish Close Championship.
2005: Left school to concentrate on golf
In 2005, Rory McIlroy decided to leave school in order to concentrate on golf.
2005: Young Player of the Year Award
In 2005, Rory McIlroy received the Young Player of the Year award at the Belfast Telegraph Sports Awards.
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
In September 2007, Rory McIlroy turned professional and signed with International Sports Management. He made his first professional start at the Quinn Direct British Masters.
2007: Ambassador for Jumeirah
From 2007 Rory McIlroy was an ambassador for the hotel chain Jumeirah.
2007: European Amateur Team Championship Win
In 2007, Rory McIlroy competed for Ireland at the European Amateur Team Championship, where Ireland defeated France in the final to claim victory.
2007: Major debut, ended amateur career
In 2007, Rory McIlroy made his major championship debut at The Open Championship and finished as the low amateur, winning the silver medal. He ended his amateur career at the Walker Cup.
2007: Turned professional
In 2007, Rory McIlroy turned professional after reaching number one on the World Amateur Golf Ranking at age 17. He soon established himself on the European Tour.
2007: Signing with International Sports Management (ISM)
In 2007, upon turning professional, Rory McIlroy signed with International Sports Management (ISM), an agency founded by Chubby Chandler.
January 2008: Entered Top 200 OWGR
On January 27, 2008, Rory McIlroy entered the top 200 of the Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR) for the first time.
September 2008: Lost in Play-off
On September 7, 2008, Rory McIlroy lost in a play-off at the Omega European Masters in Crans-sur-Sierre, Switzerland.
November 2008: Entered Top 50 OWGR
In November 2008, Rory McIlroy moved into the top 50 of the OWGR after finishing second in the UBS Hong Kong Open.
2008: Working with Paul Hurrion
In 2008, Rory McIlroy began working with specialist coach Paul Hurrion to improve his putting, as he was overly reliant on hand-eye coordination.
2008: George Best Breakthrough Prize
In 2008, Rory McIlroy won the George Best Breakthrough Prize.
2008: Secured European Tour Card
Rory McIlroy secured his European Tour card for 2008 the week after finishing third at the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship, by finishing in a tie for 4th place at the Open de Madrid Valle Romano. He became the youngest affiliate member in the history of the European Tour to earn a tour card.
2009: Invited to Masters Tournament
At the end of calendar year 2008, Rory McIlroy ranked 39th in the OWGR, earning him an invitation to the 2009 Masters Tournament.
2009: House Purchase
In 2009, Rory McIlroy bought a house in Moneyreagh, south of Belfast, with a custom practice facility and football pitch.
2009: Continued Strong Performances and World Cup Representation
In 2009, Rory McIlroy finished fifth at the BMW PGA Championship and 12th at the European Open in May. He finished in a tie for 10th at the U.S. Open and T-47 at The Open Championship. He tied for 3rd on debut at the PGA Championship. McIlroy finished the season ranked second on the Race to Dubai and entered the top 10 of the world rankings for the first time. McIlroy ended 2009 by representing Ireland at the World Cup.
2009: First European Tour Win
In 2009, Rory McIlroy secured his first win on the European Tour.
2009: Belfast Telegraph Sports Star of the Year Award
In 2009, Rory McIlroy won the Belfast Telegraph Sports Star of the Year award.
2009: Tiger Woods' Scoring Average
In 2009, Tiger Woods had a scoring average of 68.05.
2009: Bought parents a house
In 2009, after finding success as a professional golfer, Rory McIlroy bought his parents a house so they would never have to work again.
2009: Introduction 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 improve his putting game.
2010: PGA Tour Move
In 2009, Rory McIlroy announced that he would join the American-based PGA Tour for the 2010 season.
2010: Working with Stephen McGregor
In 2010, Rory McIlroy began working with exercise physiologist Stephen McGregor to address imbalances in his body and prevent potential back stress fractures. McGregor identified issues with McIlroy's stability and reliance on arm speed in his golf swing.
2010: Ryder Cup and European Tour Return
In 2010, Rory McIlroy represented Europe at the Ryder Cup, tying his Sunday singles match and helping Europe regain the cup. Following the Ryder Cup, he announced he would return to play full-time on the European Tour.
2010: First PGA Tour win and Course Record
In 2010, Rory McIlroy started the year by finishing third at the Abu Dhabi Golf Championship in January. On May 2, McIlroy shot a course-record 62 in the final round of the Quail Hollow Championship to beat Phil Mickelson by four strokes and record his first PGA Tour win.
2010: Open Championship and PGA Championship Performances
In 2010, Rory McIlroy tied the course record at the Open Championship with a 9-under-par 63 on the opening day, finishing the tournament tied for third. He also finished in third place at the PGA Championship.
2011: Skipped Players Championship
In 2010, Rory McIlroy decided to give up his PGA Tour card and skip the 2011 Players Championship. In 2012, McIlroy stated that he regretted this decision.
2011: Ambassador for UNICEF Ireland
In 2011, Rory McIlroy became an ambassador for UNICEF Ireland, marking a significant step in his involvement with charitable causes.
2011: Relationship with Caroline Wozniacki
In 2011, Rory McIlroy began dating Danish tennis player Caroline Wozniacki.
2011: Leaving ISM and joining Horizon Sports Management
In 2011, Rory McIlroy left ISM, feeling misled by Chubby Chandler, and joined Horizon Sports Management.
2011: Sponsorship with Santander Bank
In 2011, Rory McIlroy signed a multi-million dollar sponsorship agreement with Santander Bank.
2011: RTÉ Sports Person of the Year
In 2011, Rory McIlroy was named RTÉ Sports Person of the Year.
2011: U.S. Open win
In 2011, Rory McIlroy won his first major championship at the U.S. Open.
2011: Hiring Security
In 2011, after winning the U.S. Open, Rory McIlroy hired security guards for his property due to increased attention.
2011: RTÉ Sports Person of the Year and BBC Northern Ireland Sports Personality of the Year
In 2011, in recognition of his U.S. Open win, Rory McIlroy was named the RTÉ Sports Person of the Year and BBC Northern Ireland Sports Personality of the Year.
September 2012: House for Sale
In September 2012, Rory McIlroy put his house in Moneyreagh up for sale for £2 million.
December 2012: Purchase of Florida Property
In December 2012, Rory McIlroy purchased a $10-million property in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida.
2012: Improvement in Putting
After winning the 2012 PGA Championship, Rory McIlroy credited Dave Stockton for improvements in his putting after receiving putting instruction from the former PGA Tour player.
2012: Regret over decision to give up PGA Tour card
In 2012 Rory McIlroy stated he regretted his 2010 decision to give up his PGA Tour card and skip the 2011 Players Championship.
2012: End of Jumeirah Ambassadorship
In 2012 Rory McIlroy's ambassadorship for the hotel chain Jumeirah came to an end.
2012: Ryder Cup Win
In 2012, Rory McIlroy played for Europe at the Ryder Cup, with Europe winning.
2012: Views on the Troubles
In 2012, Rory McIlroy stated he doesn't want to be defined by the Troubles and that it's not how his generation thinks.
2012: MBE Appointment
In 2012, Rory McIlroy was appointed Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in the New Year Honours, for services to sport.
2012: Mark H. McCormack Award
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.
2012: PGA Championship win
In 2012, Rory McIlroy won the PGA Championship.
March 2013: Contract extension with Horizon Sports Management
In March 2013, Rory McIlroy agreed a contract extension with Horizon Sports Management, set to run until 2017.
October 2013: Dispute with Horizon Sports Management
In October 2013, Rory McIlroy described his contract with Horizon Sports Management as "unconscionable" and alleged he was coaxed into signing it, leading to a lawsuit.
December 2013: Engagement to Caroline Wozniacki
In December 2013, Rory McIlroy and Caroline Wozniacki became engaged.
2013: Creation of The Rory Foundation
In 2013, McIlroy established The Rory Foundation with the aim of supporting children's charities, signifying his commitment to philanthropy.
2013: Creation of Rory McIlroy Management Services Ltd.
In 2013, Rory McIlroy created a new management company, Rory McIlroy Management Services Ltd., to manage his endorsement royalty payments.
2013: Nationality and Olympics
In 2013, Rory McIlroy discussed his complex national identity and the possibility of playing for Northern Ireland, Ireland, or Great Britain at the Olympics.
2013: Endorsement deal with Nike, Bose, and Omega
In 2013, Rory McIlroy signed a 10-year endorsement deal with Nike worth up to $250 million and endorsement deals with Bose and Omega.
May 2014: Ending of Engagement
In May 2014, Rory McIlroy ended his engagement to Caroline Wozniacki, stating he wasn't ready for marriage.
2014: Open Championship win and Liverpool rivalry
Following his 2014 Open Championship win at Royal Liverpool, Rory McIlroy made reference to his support for Manchester United F.C., Liverpool's rivals, prompting light-hearted boos from the crowd.
2014: Awards Reiteration
In 2014, Rory McIlroy repeated his 2012 award sweep. Also in 2014, he 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.
2014: RTÉ Sports Person of the Year and Ryder Cup Win
In 2014, Rory McIlroy was named RTÉ Sports Person of the Year and played for Europe at the Ryder Cup, with Europe winning.
2014: Open Championship and PGA Championship wins
In 2014, Rory McIlroy won both the Open Championship and the PGA Championship.
2014: Mark H. McCormack Award
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.
2014: Pledge to the Cancer Fund for Children
In 2014, through The Rory Foundation, McIlroy pledged £1 million to the Cancer Fund for Children located in Newcastle, County Down, demonstrating his dedication to aiding children's health initiatives.
2014: Decision to represent Ireland at the Olympics
On the eve of the 2014 Irish Open, Rory McIlroy declared that he would represent Ireland at the Olympics.
December 2015: Engagement to Erica Stoll
In December 2015, Rory McIlroy and Erica Stoll became engaged while on holiday in Paris.
2015: Rory McIlroy PGA Tour video game
In 2015, Rory McIlroy became the namesake for the EA Sports' video game Rory McIlroy PGA Tour.
2015: Ankle Injury
In 2015, Rory McIlroy injured his ankle ligaments playing football with friends, forcing him to withdraw from the 2015 Open Championship.
2015: Settlement with Horizon Sports Management
In 2015, Rory McIlroy reached an out-of-court settlement with Horizon Sports Management after a bitter legal battle, paying the firm in excess of $25 million plus costs.
2015: Mark H. McCormack Award
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.
2016: Charitable Contributions via Foundation
During 2016, The Rory Foundation distributed a total of £1.15 million to various charities in both Ireland and the United Kingdom, with £862,543 donated directly by McIlroy himself, highlighting his substantial philanthropic efforts.
2016: Last win at the Tour Championship
In 2016, McIlroy won the Tour Championship, which was his last win until March 2018 when he won the Arnold Palmer Invitational.
2016: Golf at the Summer Olympics
In 2016, golf was named an Olympic sport for the first time since 1904 at the Summer Olympics. Rory McIlroy was regularly questioned whether he would represent Great Britain or Ireland.
April 2017: Marriage to Erica Stoll
In April 2017, Rory McIlroy married Erica Stoll at Ashford Castle in Cong, County Mayo.
2017: Ranking on Forbes' list
In 2017, Rory McIlroy ranked sixth in Forbes' list of the world's highest-paid athletes, earning $50 million, with $34 million from endorsements.
2017: Degenerative disc and swing adjustments
In 2017, Rory McIlroy revealed he had a degenerative disc in his lumbar vertebrae due to years of golfing. He also credited Stephen McGregor for helping him take better care of his body and extend his career by rebuilding his swing.
2017: Nike apparel contract and TaylorMade equipment deal
In 2017, Rory McIlroy signed a 10-year, $200-million contract extension with Nike for apparel only, and a 10-year, $100-million equipment deal with TaylorMade for their clubs, ball and bag.
2017: Horizon Sports Management Contract End
Rory McIlroy's contract with Horizon Sports Management was set to run until 2017.
January 2018: Return to Competition and Heart Irregularity Diagnosis
In January 2018, Rory McIlroy returned to professional competition at the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship after over 100 days away. Prior to the tournament, he disclosed a diagnosis of a slight heart irregularity, though he minimized its impact on his golf.
March 2018: Victory at the Arnold Palmer Invitational
In March 2018, Rory McIlroy secured a significant win at the Arnold Palmer Invitational. He shot a final-round 64, marking his first victory since the 2016 Tour Championship.
September 2018: Ryder Cup Competition
In September 2018, Rory McIlroy participated in the 2018 Ryder Cup, where he had a 2–3–0 record. This included a loss in the Sunday singles to Justin Thomas. Ultimately, Team Europe triumphed over Team USA with a score of 17.5–10.5, reclaiming the Ryder Cup.
December 2018: Closure of The Rory Foundation
In December 2018, The Rory Foundation was shut down, as McIlroy transitioned to a private philanthropic policy.
2018: Appearance on The Grand Tour
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.
2018: Ryder Cup Win
In 2018, Rory McIlroy played for Europe at the Ryder Cup, with Europe winning.
2018: Brad Faxon as Putting Coach
Since 2018, former PGA Tour player Brad Faxon has been Rory McIlroy's putting coach. Faxon was known as one of the best putters on tour during his career.
June 2019: RBC Canadian Open Victory
In June 2019, Rory McIlroy won the RBC Canadian Open with a final-round 61, winning the tournament by seven strokes. He became the sixth golfer to win the career Triple Crown (the PGA Tour's three oldest events).
November 2019: WGC-HSBC Champions Victory and Saudi International Rejection
In November 2019, Rory McIlroy won the 2019 WGC-HSBC Champions tournament in a playoff against Xander Schauffele. McIlroy also declined an invitation to the European Tour's Saudi International tournament, citing moral concerns regarding Saudi Arabia's human rights record.
2019: PGA Tour Success and Players Championship Win
In 2019, Rory McIlroy achieved five consecutive top-6 finishes on the PGA Tour, including a runner-up finish at the WGC-Mexico Championship in February. McIlroy also secured a victory at the 2019 Players Championship in March. By winning, he joined Jack Nicklaus and Tiger Woods as the only players to win four majors and 15 PGA Tour titles before turning 30.
2019: Founding Symphony Ventures
In 2019, Rory McIlroy founded Symphony Ventures, a venture capital firm, with Sean O'Flaherty, focusing on healthcare, sports, and technology sectors.
2019: Won The Players Championship
In 2019, Rory McIlroy won The Players Championship.
2019: PGA Tour Player of the Year and Vardon Trophy
In 2019, Rory McIlroy won the PGA Tour Player of the Year award and the Vardon Trophy for the third time.
May 2020: Charity Skins Game Win
In May 2020, amidst the suspension of professional tournaments due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Rory McIlroy and Dustin Johnson won a charity skins game, which raised around £4 million for relief efforts.
September 2020: Birth of Daughter
In September 2020, Rory McIlroy and Erica Stoll had a daughter.
2020: Investment in Whoop
In 2020, Rory McIlroy was among the investors in a $100-million Series E financing round for Whoop, a wearable technology company, after beginning to wear a Whoop band in 2019.
May 2021: Wells Fargo Championship Victory
In May 2021, Rory McIlroy won the Wells Fargo Championship at Quail Hollow Club by one stroke, marking his third win at Quail Hollow and his 19th PGA Tour victory.
August 2021: Olympic Games Representation and Playoff Loss
In August 2021, Rory 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: CJ Cup Victory and Life Membership
In October 2021, Rory McIlroy won the CJ Cup, securing his 20th PGA Tour victory and earning him life membership.
2022: Won FedEx Cup three times
In 2022, Rory McIlroy became the first person to win the FedEx Cup three times.
2022: Founding TMRW Sports
In 2022, Rory McIlroy founded TMRW Sports with Tiger Woods and Mike McCarley, launching TGL, an indoor golf league broadcasting on ESPN.
2022: Fourth Vardon Trophy
In 2022, Rory McIlroy won the Vardon Trophy for a fourth time. His scoring average of 68.67 was the lowest since Tiger Woods' 68.05 in 2009.
2022: Opponent of LIV Golf
In 2022, after the emergence of LIV Golf, Rory McIlroy became a vocal opponent of the Saudi-funded league, criticizing it for "ripping apart" the game of professional golf.
January 2023: Refusal to talk to Patrick Reed
In January 2023, Rory McIlroy refused to talk to LIV golfer Patrick Reed at the Hero Dubai Desert Classic, stating Reed had sent a lawyer to serve him a subpoena on Christmas Eve as part of an anti-trust lawsuit.
June 2023: Feeling like a "sacrificial lamb"
In June 2023, after the PGA Tour announced a framework agreement for a potential merger with LIV Golf, Rory McIlroy said that he felt like a "sacrificial lamb" due to his support of the PGA Tour, stating he would retire if LIV Golf was the last place to play golf.
2023: Featuring in Full Swing
In 2023, Rory McIlroy featured in the sports documentary series Full Swing, which premiered on Netflix.
2023: Alpine Racing Team Investment
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: Buffalo Bills fan
In 2023, Rory McIlroy said he is a fan of the Buffalo Bills due to his wife Erica being from Irondequoit, New York.
2023: Donation towards Cancer Fund for Children lodge
In 2023, it was announced that McIlroy contributed €1 million towards the construction of a Cancer Fund for Children lodge in Cong, County Mayo, furthering his support for children's health initiatives.
May 2024: Filing for Divorce
In May 2024, Rory McIlroy filed for divorce from Erica Stoll in Palm Beach County, Florida.
June 2024: Withdrawal of Divorce Filing
By 11 June 2024, Rory McIlroy withdrew the divorce filing from Erica Stoll, stating they resolved their differences and look forward to a new beginning.
2024: TickPick Investment and TMRW Sports Valuation
In 2024, Rory McIlroy joined the investment group for the ticket marketplace TickPick, and TMRW Sports, co-founded by McIlroy in 2022, was valued at $500 million.
2024: Gulfstream G650ER purchase
In 2024, Rory McIlroy took delivery of a Gulfstream G650ER private jet.
2024: European Tour Player of the Year
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.
2025: Ball Speed
As of 2025, Rory McIlroy is capable of producing over 190 miles per hour (310 km/h) ball speed.
2025: Cameo in Happy Gilmore 2
In 2025, Rory McIlroy made a cameo appearance in the film Happy Gilmore 2, a sequel to Happy Gilmore (1996).
2025: Wentworth Estate Home
In 2025, Rory McIlroy moved into a home in the Wentworth Estate in Surrey.
2025: Partnering with TPG Sports
In 2025, Rory McIlroy partnered with private equity firm TPG to form TPG Sports, an investment fund targeting the sports sector.
2025: Won The Masters Tournament
In 2025, Rory McIlroy won The Masters Tournament, completing the career grand slam after a 10-year drought in the majors.
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