Rory McIlroy's Success and Achievements in Timeline

A success timeline featuring the most significant achievements of Rory McIlroy.

Rory McIlroy is a Northern Irish professional golfer renowned for his achievements on both the European and PGA Tours. A former world number one for over 100 weeks, he has secured five major championships. Notably, he is one of only six golfers to achieve the modern career Grand Slam, and the first European to reach this milestone.

Sections (6)

Full Timeline Early Life & Education Career & Achievements Success & Recognition Challenges & Struggles Legacy & Impact

1923: Bobby Jones' U.S. Open win

In 1923, Bobby Jones won the U.S. Open. Rory McIlroy became the youngest winner since Bobby Jones in 2011.

1980: Jack Nicklaus' U.S. Open record

In 1980, Jack Nicklaus jointly held the U.S. Open record of 272, which was later broken by Rory McIlroy in 2011.

1980: Jack Nicklaus' 1980 PGA Championship win

In 1980, Jack Nicklaus won the PGA Championship by seven strokes, a record that stood until Rory McIlroy broke it in 2012.

1993: Lee Janzen's U.S. Open record

In 1993, Lee Janzen jointly held the U.S. Open record of 272, which was later broken by Rory McIlroy in 2011.

2000: Tiger Woods' U.S. Open record

In 2000, Tiger Woods jointly held the U.S. Open record of 272 and also had a 12-under score at Pebble Beach Golf Links, which was later broken by Rory McIlroy in 2011.

2002: Ulster Boys' U15 Championship Win

In 2002, Rory McIlroy won the Ulster Boys' U15 Championship.

2003: Jim Furyk's U.S. Open record

In 2003, Jim Furyk jointly held the U.S. Open record of 272, which was later broken by Rory McIlroy in 2011.

2003: Ulster Boys' U18 Championship Win

In 2003, Rory McIlroy won the Ulster Boys' U18 Championship.

2004: European Boys' Team Championship and Junior Ryder Cup

In 2004, Rory McIlroy was a member of the Irish team at the European Boys' Team Championship in Finland and also played on the European team which won the Junior Ryder Cup against the United States.

2005: West of Ireland and Irish Close Championship Wins

In 2005, Rory McIlroy became the youngest-ever winner of both the West of Ireland Championship and the Irish Close Championship.

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.

2005: Rory McIlroy's PGA Tour Victories

In September 2012, Rory McIlroy won the Deutsche Bank Championship and the BMW Championship. With these wins, he became the first European to win four PGA Tour events in a single season since 2005, when Tiger Woods achieved the same.

August 2006: European Amateur Win

In August 2006, Rory McIlroy won the European Amateur at Biella Golf Club, near Milan, Italy.

2007: European Amateur Team Championship Victory

In 2007, Rory McIlroy competed for Ireland at the European Amateur Team Championship, where Ireland defeated France in the final to claim victory.

2007: Reaching Number One in World Amateur Golf Ranking and Turning Professional

In 2007, Rory McIlroy reached number one on the World Amateur Golf Ranking as a 17-year-old. Later that year, in 2007, he turned professional, establishing himself on the European Tour.

January 2008: Entering Top 200 of OWGR

On January 27, 2008, Rory McIlroy entered the top 200 of the Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR) for the first time.

November 2008: Moving into Top 50 of OWGR

In November 2008, Rory McIlroy moved into the top 50 of the OWGR after finishing second in the UBS Hong Kong Open.

February 2009: First Professional Win

On February 1, 2009, Rory McIlroy achieved his first professional win at the Dubai Desert Classic, which elevated him to 16th in the OWGR.

2009: First European Tour Win

In 2009, Rory McIlroy achieved his first win on the European Tour, marking a significant milestone in his professional career.

2009: Tiger Woods scoring average

In 2022, Rory McIlroy's scoring average of 68.67 was the lowest since Tiger Woods' 68.05 in 2009.

2010: First PGA Tour Win

In 2010, Rory McIlroy achieved his first win on the PGA Tour, further solidifying his presence in the world of professional golf.

2011: RTÉ Sports Person of the Year

In 2011, Rory McIlroy was named RTÉ Sports Person of the Year for his achievements.

2011: RTÉ Sports Person of the Year and BBC Northern Ireland Sports Personality of the Year

In 2011, Rory McIlroy was named the RTÉ Sports Person of the Year and BBC Northern Ireland Sports Personality of the Year in recognition of his U.S. Open win.

2011: First Major Championship Win

In 2011, Rory McIlroy won his first major championship at the U.S. Open, marking a significant achievement in his career.

2011: Tied-25th at Open Championship, wrist injury at PGA Championship, wins Shanghai Masters and Hong Kong Open

In July 2011, Rory McIlroy finished tied-25th at the Open Championship due to tough weather conditions. He also injured his wrist at the PGA Championship. In October 2011, he won the Lake Malaren Shanghai Masters, and in December 2011, he won the UBS Hong Kong Open.

2011: U.S. Open victory

In June 2011, at the U.S. Open, Rory McIlroy took the first-round lead and set records for the lowest 36-hole and 54-hole totals. He finished with a record 268 (−16) to win his first major championship, becoming the youngest winner since 1923 and rising to a career-high fourth in the OWGR.

2012: McIlroy Credits Dave Stockton for Putting Improvements

After winning the 2012 PGA Championship, Rory McIlroy credited Dave Stockton for improvements in his putting skills.

2012: Ryder Cup Win

In 2012, Rory McIlroy played for Europe at the Ryder Cup, where Europe won the tournament.

2012: Appointed Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE)

In 2012, Rory McIlroy was appointed Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in the New Year Honours for his 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, adding another major title to his list of accomplishments.

2012: PGA and European Tour awards

In 2012, Rory McIlroy won the PGA Player of the Year and PGA Tour Player of the Year awards, as well as the Vardon Trophy and Byron Nelson Award. He was also voted the European Tour Golfer of the Year and European Tour Players' Player of the Year.

2012: Tiger Woods crossed $100 million earnings

In 2025, McIlroy earned $337,844 at the Texas Children's Houston Open, taking his career earnings on the PGA Tour to $100,046,906. This made McIlroy the second man to reach $100 million in official PGA Tour earnings, joining Tiger Woods who crossed the mark in 2012.

2012: Runner-up finishes and Honda Classic win

In January 2012, Rory McIlroy finished second at the Abu Dhabi HSBC Golf Championship. In February 2012, he was runner-up at the WGC-Accenture Match Play Championship. In March 2012, he won the Honda Classic, becoming the number one player in the world.

2012: Ryder Cup and DP World Tour Championship wins

In September 2012, Rory McIlroy participated in the Ryder Cup, contributing to Europe's comeback win despite a mix-up with his tee time. In November 2012, he won the DP World Tour Championship, Dubai.

2013: Emirates Australian Open win

In December 2013, Rory McIlroy won the Emirates Australian Open, marking his first win of the year.

2014: Repeated award sweep and further recognition

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: PGA and Open Championship Wins

In 2014, Rory McIlroy won both the PGA Championship and the Open Championship, making it a highly successful year in his career.

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: Ryder Cup and RTÉ Sports Person of the Year

In 2014, Rory McIlroy won the Ryder Cup with Europe. Also in 2014, he was named RTÉ Sports Person of the Year for a second time.

2014: WGC-Bridgestone Invitational and PGA Championship wins

In 2014, Rory McIlroy won the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational and the PGA Championship, becoming one of three players to win four majors by age 25.

2014: McIlroy held a two-stroke lead at PGA Championship

In April, at the 2025 Masters Tournament, McIlroy held a two-stroke lead after 54 holes, which was his first 54-hole outright lead at a major since the 2014 PGA Championship.

2014: Open Championship victory

In July 2014, Rory McIlroy won the Open Championship, his first Open Championship and third major championship.

2014: Honda Classic Playoff Loss and BMW PGA Championship Win

In March 2014, Rory McIlroy lost in a playoff at the Honda Classic. In May 2014, he won the BMW PGA Championship, his first win in 18 months.

2014: Ryder Cup participation

In September 2014, Rory McIlroy participated in the Ryder Cup, contributing to Europe's victory.

2015: Masters finish, WGC-Cadillac Match Play win, and Wells Fargo Championship victory

In 2015, Rory McIlroy finished fourth at the Masters Tournament. He also won the WGC-Cadillac Match Play event and the Wells Fargo Championship, setting a course record at Quail Hollow Club.

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: Irish Open victory and Olympic withdrawal

In May 2016, Rory McIlroy won the Irish Open and donated his winnings to charity. He withdrew from the 2016 Summer Olympics due to the Zika virus threat but expressed interest in competing in the 2020 Olympics.

2016: Deutsche Bank Championship, Tour Championship, and Ryder Cup

In September and October 2016, Rory McIlroy won the Deutsche Bank Championship and the Tour Championship, earning the FedEx Cup title. At the 2016 Ryder Cup, he contributed three points but lost his singles match, as the United States defeated Europe.

2017: McIlroy Ranks Sixth in Forbes' List of Highest-Paid Athletes

In 2017, Rory McIlroy ranked sixth in Forbes' list of the world's highest-paid athletes, earning $50 million, with $34 million coming from endorsements.

2018: Ryder Cup Win

In 2018, Rory McIlroy represented Europe at the Ryder Cup, and Europe won the competition.

2019: Winning The Players Championship

In 2019, Rory McIlroy won The Players Championship, a significant victory in his career.

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.

2022: Winning the FedEx Cup Three Times

In 2022, Rory McIlroy became the first person to win the FedEx Cup three times, surpassing Tiger Woods' two wins.

2022: 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.

2023: Ryder Cup Win

In 2023, Rory McIlroy played for Europe at the Ryder Cup, where Europe secured a victory.

2024: European Tour Player of the Year award

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: McIlroy's Ball Speed Reaches Over 190 mph

As of 2025, Rory McIlroy is capable of producing a ball speed of over 190 miles per hour (310 km/h).

2025: Victory at AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am and second Players Championship Title

In 2025, Rory McIlroy won the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am and later secured his second Players Championship title after a playoff.

2025: Winning the Masters Tournament and Completing the Career Grand Slam

In 2025, after a 10-year drought in the majors, Rory McIlroy won the Masters Tournament, completing the career grand slam.

2025: McIlroy wins the 2025 Masters Tournament

In April 2025, Rory McIlroy won the Masters Tournament after a playoff with Justin Rose, completing the career grand slam and becoming the sixth player to achieve this feat in the modern era.