Following his triumphant title defense at The Masters, Rory McIlroy has reassessed his major goals, seeking to create more golfing history. Having completed the career Grand Slam last year, McIlroy became the sixth male golfer to achieve this feat and then went on to successfully defend his title, joining the likes of Jack Nicklaus, Sir Nick Faldo, and Tiger Woods in this exclusive group. With his latest victory, McIlroy has matched Faldo, Phil Mickelson, and Lee Trevino as a six-time major champion, squandering a record-breaking six-shot halfway lead during a rollercoaster title defense. McIlroy expressed that the Grand Slam was not the ultimate destination, but rather a part of his journey, and he still has many things he wants to achieve.
Now, he is halfway to becoming a double Grand Slam champion, having already won the PGA Championship twice. Potential targets for McIlroy include a second successive Masters title, which would bring him closer to becoming a double Grand Slam champion. He has also had seven top-10 finishes at the US Open since his maiden major title in 2011, including runner-up finishes to Wyndham Clark and Bryson DeChambeau. McIlroy has impressed at the next two Open venues, posting a top-four finish at Royal Birkdale Golf Club in 2017 and taking third at St Andrews' Old Course in 2022.
Only Nicklaus and Woods have won all four majors on multiple occasions, and McIlroy is a long way from that, but a double Grand Slam is a potential target. McIlroy stated that he is not putting a number on his major wins, but he certainly doesn't want to stop here. With six majors under his belt, McIlroy is already Europe's greatest-ever golfer, given that he is the only male from the continent to complete the career Grand Slam.
One more major would see McIlroy surpass Faldo as the most successful European golfer in the modern era, matching Harry Vardon's seven titles. McIlroy can set his own landmark by becoming the first player to win The Masters three years running, and he also has the opportunity to win all four majors in the same calendar year. Should McIlroy add to his major tally at the PGA Championship, speculation over a possible Calendar Slam will gather more momentum.
Next year marks the centenary edition of the Ryder Cup, where McIlroy will likely play an integral role in Team Europe's push for a third consecutive victory. His legacy in the Ryder Cup is already confirmed, with McIlroy set for multiple more appearances in the years ahead and destined to be captain at some stage. Former Ryder Cup captain Paul McGinley explained that McIlroy's game will age well, and he will still be one of the biggest hitters in the game even when he loses a bit of power.
Scheffler has been the dominant force in world golf over the past four years, but McIlroy's last victory pulls him closer to the American in the battle to be world No 1. McIlroy has spent a combined 122 weeks at world No 1 across nine different stints in his career, although he has not held top spot since losing it to Scheffler in February 2023. Butch Harmon told Sky Sports that McIlroy is the best player in the world, and he is maybe starting the second phase of his career.
The PGA Championship, US Open, and The Open are still to come, with McIlroy now working towards new major targets. McIlroy expressed that he has the opportunity to do them all, having won two Masters, two PGAs, and having a chance to win two Opens and two US Opens. He stated that getting over the hurdle of the Grand Slam makes the next few years of his career just have potential.