Early Amateur Career
McIlroy’s amateur career was nothing short of extraordinary. His international recognition grew when he won the European Amateur Championship in 2006. McIlroy also represented Ireland and Great Britain in various team events, including the Walker Cup in 2007, which was his final major amateur event before turning professional.
Turning Pro (2007)
McIlroy turned professional in September 2007, making an immediate impact. He debuted on the European Tour at the Quinn Direct British Masters, where he tied for 42nd place. His early performances showed promise, and he quickly secured his European Tour card for 2008, finishing in the top 10 of his second professional event, the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship.
2008: First Professional Wins
In 2008, McIlroy had several top-10 finishes and climbed into the top 200 of the Official World Golf Ranking. He narrowly missed winning the Omega European Masters, finishing second in a playoff. His consistency throughout the season earned him the Sir Henry Cotton Rookie of the Year Award on the European Tour.
2009: First European Tour Win
McIlroy’s first professional victory came in 2009 at the Dubai Desert Classic on the European Tour. This win propelled him into the top 20 of the world rankings. He also made a significant impression in his debut at the Masters Tournament, finishing tied for 20th, which was an impressive result for a 19-year-old.
Later that year, McIlroy earned his PGA Tour card after finishing third at the PGA Championship. He also qualified for the 2009 World Golf Championships events, where he continued to perform consistently.
2010: Breakthrough on the PGA Tour
McIlroy secured his first PGA Tour victory in May 2010 at the Quail Hollow Championship. His win came in spectacular fashion, as he shot a final round of 62, one of the best rounds of his career. This performance not only cemented his place among the elite golfers but also made him the youngest player to win on the PGA Tour since Tiger Woods.
Later that year, McIlroy finished third in The Open Championship at St. Andrews, further demonstrating his ability to compete on golf’s biggest stages.
2011: First Major Championship – U.S. Open
In 2011, McIlroy experienced a major breakthrough. After leading the 2011 Masters by four strokes going into the final round, McIlroy suffered a historic collapse, shooting an 80 and finishing tied for 15th. However, he rebounded magnificently at the U.S. Open just two months later.
McIlroy won the 2011 U.S. Open at Congressional Country Club with a record-breaking performance. He finished with a score of 16-under-par, setting the record for the lowest total in U.S. Open history. This victory, by an eight-shot margin, catapulted McIlroy to global stardom and marked his arrival as a major force in golf.
2012: PGA Championship Win and World No. 1
In 2012, McIlroy continued his meteoric rise. In March, he won The Honda Classic to claim the world No. 1 ranking for the first time. Later in the year, he secured his second major title at the PGA Championship at Kiawah Island, winning by a record eight strokes, breaking Jack Nicklaus’ margin-of-victory record in the process. McIlroy ended the year as the top-ranked golfer in the world and won both the PGA Tour Money List and the European Tour Order of Merit, becoming the youngest player ever to achieve this double.
2013: A Year of Struggles
The year 2013 proved to be a difficult one for McIlroy, as he struggled with form and consistency, largely attributed to his switch from Titleist to Nike clubs. His best finish in a major that year was tied for eighth at the PGA Championship. Despite the dip in performance, he remained a prominent figure in golf and was still among the top players in the world.
2014: Dominance and Two Major Titles
McIlroy bounced back in 2014, producing arguably the best season of his career. He won his third major at The Open Championship at Royal Liverpool, becoming the first European to win three different majors. Later that year, McIlroy won his fourth major at the PGA Championship, cementing his legacy among golf’s greats. Additionally, he won the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational and the BMW PGA Championship on the European Tour.
By the end of 2014, McIlroy had returned to world No. 1 and won both the PGA Tour and European Tour money titles for the second time.
2015–2018: Continued Success and Injury Struggles
From 2015 to 2018, McIlroy had moments of brilliance but was hampered by injuries, including a rib injury that affected his 2017 season. During this period, McIlroy won several prestigious events, including the Dubai Duty-Free Irish Open in 2016, the Deutsche Bank Championship in 2016, and the Arnold Palmer Invitational in 2018.
However, he struggled to add to his major tally during this time, with his best result being a tie for fourth at the 2015 Masters.
2019: Return to Form
McIlroy had a stellar 2019 season, highlighted by his victory at The Players Championship. He also won the RBC Canadian Open and the Tour Championship, claiming the FedEx Cup for the second time in his career. He finished the year as the PGA Tour Player of the Year, earning the Jack Nicklaus Award for the third time.
2020–2021: COVID-19 Era and Ryder Cup
The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted the 2020 season, but McIlroy remained competitive. In 2021, he won the Wells Fargo Championship for a third time, bringing his PGA Tour wins to 19. However, his form at the majors continued to be inconsistent. McIlroy also participated in the Ryder Cup for Europe but struggled as the U.S. team dominated.