Following his successful title defense at The Masters, Rory McIlroy has reassessed his major goals, creating new opportunities to make golfing history. With his career Grand Slam complete, McIlroy's latest victory has positioned him alongside Jack Nicklaus, Sir Nick Faldo, and Tiger Woods as the only players to successfully defend their title at The Masters. Having squandered a record-breaking six-shot halfway lead, McIlroy held on to join Faldo, Phil Mickelson, and Lee Trevino as a six-time major champion.
"The Grand Slam was the destination, but it's just a part of the journey," McIlroy stated. "I still have things I want to achieve." Potential targets for McIlroy include becoming a double Grand Slam champion, having already won the PGA Championship twice. He has had seven top-10 finishes at the US Open and has impressed at upcoming Open venues.
Only Nicklaus and Woods have won all four majors multiple times, with McIlroy having a long way to go but a double Grand Slam as a potential target. McIlroy's latest success takes him to six majors, the same number as Faldo, with one more major win set to surpass Faldo as the most successful European golfer in the modern era. With his legacy in the Ryder Cup already confirmed, McIlroy is set for multiple appearances and destined to be captain at some stage.
His game is expected to survive for six or seven years, with his short game and all-roundedness allowing him to remain competitive. McIlroy's last victory pulls him closer to Scottie Scheffler in the battle to be world No 1, with the PGA Championship, US Open, and The Open still to come.