Rory McIlroy's Path to Six Majors

Looking back at Rory McIlroy's major victories, from record-breaking wins to a career Grand Slam... McIlroy's rise to prominence began in 2011, when he captured his first major title at Congressional Country Club, overcoming the pressure of being in contention and silencing doubts after a previous collapse at The Masters. His impressive display, which included rounds of 65 and 66, resulted in the largest 36-hole lead in US Open history. This victory marked the beginning of McIlroy's major successes, which have been characterized by dominant performances and record-breaking achievements. At the 2012 PGA Championship, McIlroy claimed his second major title, winning by a record eight strokes at Kiawah Island. This victory propelled him back to the top of the world rankings and cemented his position as a leading figure in golf. McIlroy's third major win came at the 2014 Open Championship, where he produced a wire-to-wire victory at Royal Liverpool. He began the tournament with a bogey-free opening round and continued to build on his lead, eventually securing a two-shot win over Sergio Garcia and Rickie Fowler. Later that summer, McIlroy added a fourth major title to his collection, winning the PGA Championship at Valhalla Golf Club. This victory marked a significant milestone in his career, as he became the third-youngest player to win four major championships. Following an 11-year wait, McIlroy secured his fifth major title at the 2025 Masters, where he overcame a dramatic final round and a playoff against Justin Rose to claim the coveted Green Jacket. This win completed his career Grand Slam, making him the sixth player in history to achieve this feat. McIlroy's most recent major victory came at the 2026 Masters, where he became the first player since Tiger Woods to win back-to-back titles at Augusta National. After taking a six-shot lead into the weekend, McIlroy faced a challenging final round but managed to close out a narrow one-shot win, solidifying his position as one of golf's all-time greats.