Rory McIlroy's Road to Six Majors: A Look Back at His Illustrious Career

Throughout his career, Rory McIlroy has achieved record-breaking victories, secured a career Grand Slam, and even won back-to-back titles at The Masters. Let's revisit all six of his major wins and explore the journey that has made him one of golf's all-time greats... McIlroy's rise to fame began when he was in contention at Congressional Country Club in 2011. Despite his final-round collapse at The Masters earlier that year, he proved his doubters wrong with a dominant display, taking a significant lead in the tournament with rounds of 65 and 66. This impressive start led to the largest 36-hole lead in US Open history, and he eventually won the tournament by eight strokes, surpassing Tiger Woods' scoring record with a total of 16 under par. McIlroy's winning streak continued in 2012 with another record-breaking victory at Kiawah Island, which propelled him back to the top of the world rankings. He began the tournament with a 67, followed by a 75 in windy conditions, but a five-under 67 in the third round put him three strokes ahead. The chasing pack's hopes were dashed on the final day as McIlroy birdied three of his first seven holes, extending his lead and ultimately securing an eight-shot victory. One of McIlroy's most notable victories was his wire-to-wire win at Royal Liverpool in 2014. A bogey-free opening round laid the foundation for his success, and he maintained his lead throughout the tournament. Despite a brief challenge from Sergio Garcia, McIlroy emerged victorious, winning the Claret Jug with a two-shot lead. That summer, McIlroy added a WGC-Bridgestone Invitational title to his collection before securing his fourth major win at Valhalla Golf Club. He regained the world No 1 spot and took a one-shot lead into the final round, birdieing three of the last four holes in the third round. Although he had a slow start to the final day, McIlroy fought back with stunning shots, including an eagle at the 10th and a birdie at the 13th, to claim the Wanamaker Trophy for the second time. It would be 11 years before McIlroy added to his major tally, but his maiden Masters triumph in 2025 was well worth the wait. The final round was a rollercoaster ride, with McIlroy double-bogeying the opening hole and then taking control of the tournament before dropping four shots in a four-hole stretch. However, he made a remarkable comeback, setting up a two-putt birdie at the 15th and another birdie at the 17th, which gave him a one-shot buffer heading into the final hole. Although he missed a five-foot putt for par and slipped into a playoff against Justin Rose, McIlroy made amends by converting a close-range birdie chance and sparking emotional celebrations. With his Masters victory, McIlroy became the sixth player to complete the men's career Grand Slam, joining the likes of Woods, Nicklaus, Ben Hogan, Gary Player, and Gene Sarazen. The win fulfilled his childhood dream and cemented his place as one of golf's all-time greats. In 2026, McIlroy made history again by becoming the fourth player to win back-to-back Masters titles, and the first since Woods in 2001 and '02. After a dramatic and tension-filled victory the previous year, McIlroy seemed poised for a convincing win, taking a six-shot lead into the weekend with a magnificent second-round 65. Although his advantage evaporated by Saturday evening, McIlroy responded to the challenge, birdieing back-to-back holes at seven and eight, and successive gains at 12 and 13 saw him regain the lead. Despite a strong challenge from Rose and world No 1 Scottie Scheffler, McIlroy closed out a narrow one-shot win with a two-putt bogey at 18. As McIlroy continues to make his mark on the golfing world, the question remains: will he enjoy more major success? Watch The Masters, PGA Championship, US Open, and The Open exclusively live on Sky Sports or stream with NOW to find out.