CHARLOTTE, N.C. – More than a month has passed since Rory McIlroy achieved a long-held childhood dream, a moment so significant it seemed to make him weak at the knees.
His win at the Masters, which completed his career Grand Slam, created a lasting impression on the sport. The world`s top players have recently spoken about this achievement.
Justin Thomas mentioned it served as a reminder of his own desire for the Grand Slam, inspiring both determination and a touch of envy. Scottie Scheffler expressed admiration for the effort McIlroy invested over his career to win all four majors. Jordan Spieth, needing only the PGA Championship for his own Grand Slam, found it inspiring.
According to Spieth, “You could tell it was a harder win — most of the time he makes it look a lot easier. So that obviously was on the forefront of his mind. Something like that has not been done by many people, and there`s a reason why.”
Jon Rahm commented, “I think it`s been a very difficult hurdle to overcome, and you could see his emotion towards the end. He`s had so many chances. It`s just, it`s never easy. It`s very difficult. I would not be one bit surprised if this lifted a weight off his shoulders that could get him going on another run.”
Adding to the narrative, McIlroy`s first major since achieving the career Grand Slam is at Quail Hollow Country Club, a course where he has frequently found success (winning four times) and which positions him as a strong favorite this week.
However, while others, like Rahm, are ready to discuss his future potential (`How many majors can he win now?`) and view him as freed from pressure after his significant win, McIlroy himself appears keen to pause, savor the achievement, and appreciate its profound meaning.
McIlroy stated, “I still want to create a lot of other highlights and high points, but I`m not sure if any other win will live up to what happened a few weeks ago. I`m still going to set myself goals. I`m still going to try to achieve certain things. But I sit here knowing that that very well could be the highlight of my career.”
Given the circumstances, it`s easy to understand why he feels this way.
The manner in which McIlroy finally claimed the coveted green jacket, showcasing his vulnerability, skill, and resilience through 72 demanding holes, and his subsequent muted yet emotional celebration (more a sigh of relief than emphatic ecstasy), created a historic moment he wishes to recall vividly himself, not just through highlight reels.
He explained, “I`ve tried not to watch it a lot because I want to remember the feelings. But anytime I have, I well up. I still feel like I want to cry. I`ve never felt a release like that before, and I might never feel a release like that again. That could be a once-in-a-lifetime thing, and it was a very cool moment.”
Listening to McIlroy on Wednesday suggested that his sense of the 2025 Masters being a defining moment, and the unique feeling it provided, might indicate not a renewed drive for more majors with less pressure, but rather the attainment of something athletes are often discouraged from: satisfaction.
He added, “I have achieved everything that I`ve wanted — I`ve done everything I`ve wanted to do in the game. I dreamed as a child of becoming the best player in the world and winning all the majors. I`ve done that. Everything beyond this, for however long I decide to play the game competitively, is a bonus.”
Securing a Masters victory, ending his major drought and achieving the career Grand Slam, provided a perfect conclusion to the story surrounding him. It felt simultaneously destined and improbable. Thus, McIlroy appears to have gained not only satisfaction and fulfillment but also perspective. The challenging path to this goal was ultimately rewarding.
McIlroy remarked, “I think everyone saw how hard having a north star is and being able to get over the line. I feel like I sort of burdened myself with the career Grand Slam stuff, and I want to enjoy this.”
While McIlroy has previously stated aspirations like being considered the best European player (surpassed in majors by only two others) and winning an away Ryder Cup (an opportunity this year at Bethpage Black), these goals are secondary to his Masters triumph this year. For a player known for his remarkable consistency at the elite level, simply accumulating wins or majors doesn`t seem to be the primary focus.
He commented, “I`ve always said I`m never going to put a number on it. The numbers tell one story, but it`s not — mightn`t be the full story. I want to enjoy what I`ve achieved, and I want to enjoy the last decade or whatever of my career.”
At 36, it`s worth remembering McIlroy has been a professional golfer for 18 years. The absence of a Masters title significantly shaped his career narrative, but its completion suggests he is entering a new phase, potentially leading to questions about his future playing duration.
McIlroy has indicated he won`t play the Champions Tour and would consider something seriously amiss if he felt compelled to compete at 50. This shift is also evident in his scheduling, with more international events (like last year`s Irish Open and upcoming Australian Opens) and fewer overall tournaments. He recently stated a lack of concern about the outcome of LIV-PGA Tour negotiations.
Despite these shifts and the new landscape of professional golf, McIlroy – currently playing arguably the best golf in the world – maintains his attitude and approach will remain unchanged.
On Thursday morning, he will approach the first tee, seeking victory as he has countless times before. His past achievements won`t alter his current objective. He might feel less burdened, apply less self-imposed pressure, or perhaps, if in contention on Sunday, rediscover the intense competitive drive he experienced weeks prior.
This isn`t to say McIlroy`s competitive spirit is diminished; rather, having finally scaled the peak that took nearly 11 years to reach, he suggests that with a Masters and the career Grand Slam secured, he has attained his personal state of golfing contentment.
He concluded, “It`s everything I thought it would be.”
Marcus Blakely