With Scheffler adding both The Open and the PGA Championship to his résumé, posting 17 top-10 finishes in 20 starts, and earning an eye-watering $27,659,550 in prize money, the World No.1 appeared untouchable.

But as golf fans who regularly check sites like Betdaq and every major betting exchange discussed the season’s narrative, one thing became abundantly clear: McIlroy wasn’t about to be overshadowed. Not this year. Not with history on the line.

Becoming only the sixth player ever to complete the career Grand Slam, McIlroy reignited the debate—and with what followed in the Ryder Cup and the Race to Dubai, the Northern Irishman has arguably nudged ahead of his American rival by year’s end.

At 36, there’s very little left for McIlroy to accomplish in golf aside from perhaps that elusive Olympic Gold in Los Angeles in three years’ time. Until then, here’s a look back at one of the most remarkable seasons of his illustrious career.

Early-season warning signs

McIlroy has always been known for fast starts, building form through the early months before the spotlight turns to Augusta.

But 2025 felt different from the outset. His two-stroke win over close friend Shane Lowry at the Pebble Beach Pro-Am in February was impressive, but it was the dramatic playoff victory over J.J. Spaun at The Players that suggested this might be an extraordinary year.

Momentum was building. Hope was rising. And as the azaleas began to bloom at Augusta National, the sense of destiny grew stronger.

Career Grand Slam

There could be no more poetic place for McIlroy to end his long major drought than the Masters—his white whale, the lone gap on an otherwise glittering career record.

But the road to the Green Jacket was far from smooth. At several points during the weekend, especially in the tension-filled final round, it looked like the ghosts of past Augusta collapses were circling once more.

Yet this time, McIlroy stood firm.

In a gripping playoff against Justin Rose, he finally exorcised those demons, completing the career Grand Slam and etching his name into golf’s most exclusive club. It was emotional, cathartic, historic—perhaps the defining moment of McIlroy’s career.

Irish Open success

The Open at Royal Portrush didn’t bring the fairy-tale home victory many hoped for, though a tied-seventh finish was still a far cry from the heartbreaking missed cut on the same course in 2019. But any lingering disappointment was wiped away weeks later.

At the K Club in September, McIlroy delivered once again for the Irish faithful. A monstrous eagle putt on the 18th forced a playoff with Rasmus Neergaard-Petersen, and extra holes were all he needed to seal another unforgettable Irish Open victory.

It was vintage Rory—flair, courage, and a touch of magic.

Away Ryder Cup victory

Back in January, McIlroy laid out his three remaining career goals: win the Masters, win Olympic Gold, and win another away Ryder Cup. Many assumed those might take years—especially the latter, as away wins are notoriously rare.

And yet, in one of the most dramatic Ryder Cups of the modern era, Europe stunned the USA with a 15–13 triumph at the hostile Bethpage Black.

McIlroy was central to the charge. Despite losing his singles match to Scheffler, he collected three-and-a-half points from four in the pairs sessions, once again leading from the front. It was redemption, vindication, and a monumental achievement rolled into one.

Seventh Race to Dubai title

The final jewel in McIlroy’s 2025 crown came on the DP World Tour. Entering the final tournament of the season, only two players had a mathematical chance of catching him in the Race to Dubai standings.

Even though he lost a playoff to Matt Fitzpatrick at the DP World Tour Championship, McIlroy had already done more than enough.

A seventh Order of Merit title—his fourth in a row—sealed his place in history. Surpassing the legendary Seve Ballesteros and moving to within one of Colin Montgomerie’s record was an achievement that spoke not only to McIlroy’s brilliance but also to his longevity.

The post Remembering Rory McIlroy’s remarkable season appeared first on Golf News.

Q. Before we talk about winning The Race to Dubai again, let’s talk about today and the events that unfolded, eagling the last, again. Tell us about today from your point of view?

Yeah, got off to the perfect start. 3-under through five, 4-under through seven. Felt like I had sort of taken control of the golf tournament. Was a couple ahead.

Then, yeah, I made two bogeys on the way in on 12 and 16 and didn’t birdie 14 and 15, the birdie holes. Obviously knew I needed something to happen on the last. I actually hit a great shot on 17, ended up a little short. Hit a great putt that lipped-out.

On the last, I knew what I had to do. I hit a great 5-wood. Lucky to see Rasmus’s putt before mine. His hung out a little bit before it started to turn, so got a read from him. It was a great way to finish, making the playoff.

But unfortunately hit it in the water there on 18 in the playoff. Just sort of put me behind the 8-ball. But happy for Matt. He’s had a great end of the season. Played great to get on the Ryder Cup Team, and then he sort of kept it going since, so really happy for him as well.

Last year you equaled Severiano Ballesteros’s Race to Dubai titles, and this year you surpassed him. Tell us how it feels to surpass his title.

I had a course with his wife, Carmen, before I went out to play today, and she told me how proud he would have been. You know, I said this on this green last year, he means so much to this tour and to the European Ryder Cup Team. We rally so much around his spirit and his quotes and everything he meant for European golf.

To equal him last year was cool but to surpass him this year, yeah, I didn’t get this far in my dreams, so it’s very cool.

Now just one behind Colin Montgomerie’s 8th record title. You don’t need it, but how much do you want it?

I want it, of course I do. I caught up with Monty this week when he was here a couple days ago and I saw him. Look, it seems within touching distance now. I’d love to be the winningest European in terms of Order of Merits and season-long races.

You know, I’ve probably got a few more good years left in me, and hopefully I can catch him and surpass him.

The post INTERVIEW: RORY WINS SEVENTH EUROPEAN ORDER OF MERIT TITLE appeared first on Golf News.

In a season of unprecedented glory and worldwide wins, the position of Fujikura as the consistent choice of champions and the global leader in shaft innovation was confirmed with all four Major winners using VENTUS shafts in their driver – the first time a specialist driver shaft brand has achieved such a feat*.

Fujikura registered its first Major win in 2001, and over the last five years has become the most used driver shaft on the PGA Tour with countless more victories across golf’s biggest tournaments.

The 2025 Major Championship at Portrush demanded the very best in power and accuracy, due to the course’s tight and dog-legging fairways, and greens protected by devilish pot-bunkers and viscous run-off areas.

Ultimately, an ability to control the trajectory of the ball from the tee – as well as being able to attack the par 5s with confidence from the fairway – ensured the winner, Scottie Scheffler, remained in control over the closing two rounds after topping the leaderboard following Friday’s second round.

The win in Portrush was the second Major success of the year for Scheffler, following another runaway victory in the 107th PGA Championship at Quail Hollow. On both occasions, he was able to play with great control from the tee, utilizing the consistency in his long game with a VENTUS Black 7-X in his driver.

The American also trusted VENTUS in his wood shafts, using a VENTUS Black 8-X in his 3-wood (Royal Portrush and Quail Hollow), and VENTUS Black 9-X in his 7-wood (Quail Hollow). It was a shaft line-up that proved critical in delivering two of the most dominant wins of the season across two vastly different layouts.

Fujikura’s journey to making history began in April, with Master’s Champion Rory McIlroy showcasing the ultimate levels of power from the tee and fairway.

Before overcoming the pressure of a play-off, McIlroy had been able to stay in contention and control during regulation play by hitting fairway after fairway with a VENTUS Black 6-X in his driver. The Northern Irishman’s wood shaft line-up included VENTUS Black 8-X and VENTUS Black 9-X (3-wood and 5-wood respectively).

Of all the Major wins in 2025, there was none more thrilling than the third of the year in Pennsylvania, where JJ Spaun claimed the US Open at one of the toughest courses in Major Championship history at Oakmont.

Under the most intense pressure as players struggled with the course’s defences over the back nine on Sunday, Spaun was able to close out victory using the new VENTUS Black 6-X shaft in his driver with tournament-winning birdies at the 71st and 72nd holes, which included driving the green on the 314-yard par-4 17th.

Designed with advanced VeloCore+ technology – Spaun’s victory at Oakmont was the first Major win registered for the new line of VENTUS with VeloCore+ – the VENTUS Black 6-X shaft would provide the stability, accuracy and distance needed to overcome one of the most gruelling tests in golf.

Fujikura also backed up its position as the most used driver and wood shaft among the world’s best players. At the final Major of the year in Northern Ireland, an impressive 43.9% of the field chose the brand’s shafts in their driver (69 out of 157), with 39.3% of players trusting Fujikura in their wood shaft line-up.**

However, across all four Majors, the numbers prove even more impressive, with 44.9% trusting the brand’s shafts in their driver (255 players out of 568), and 40.7% playing Fujikura in their wood line-up.**

Eric Recher, Director of Marketing at Fujikura, said: “We are proud to have made history by supporting the winners of all four Major Championships in 2025.

“It is testament to the innovation and technology that goes into our driver and wood shafts that so many of the world’s best players rely on the consistency of VENTUS when the pressure is at its most intense.

“Fujikura’s success across the 2025 Majors only adds to our storied history of powering global victories across the professional tours. But we believe the innovation that goes into every product we make will ensure there is a VENTUS shaft option for every level of player throughout their woods and utility clubs.

“Whether you are chasing a Major or your best round at your local course, VENTUS and Fujikura’s full line-up of shafts are designed to elevate every player’s game.”

Purchase Fujikura driver shafts from authorized distributor ValueGolf.com

*Records taken from Darrell Survey

**All figures taken from Darrell Survey

The post Making Major History: How Fujikura and VENTUS made it a clean sweep in 2025 appeared first on Golf News.

Just your initial reaction to the golf course and maybe a bit about what you remember from 2016?

RORY McILROY: Yeah, don’t really remember much about 2016. I think I just tried to erase it from the memory bank. Then yeah, look, it’s Oakmont. Even though Gil has come in here and done his thing, it’s still a big brute of a golf course, and you’re going to have to have your wits about you this week all the way throughout the bag, off the tee, into the greens, around the greens.

So yeah, look, everyone knows what to expect. It’s Oakmont. It’s going to be a great test.

Q. Rory, I know the driver plays a role, but if the ball has been getting away from you off the tee, there’s presumably some technical thing going on. Just wondering what you’ve identified in your swing and what you’re working on.

RORY McILROY: Yeah, I think it’s a little bit of both. I think especially trying to — hitting a lot of drivers, every driver sort of has its own character and you’re trying to manage the misses. It’s definitely a little bit of both.

I feel like, as the last few weeks go, I think I learnt a lot on Thursday and Friday last week and did a good bit of practice at home and feel like I’m in a better place with everything going into this week.

Q. What did you learn at home?

RORY McILROY: I learned that I wasn’t using the right driver. (Laughter.)

Q. Rory, you told us at the PGA that you’ve accomplished everything you want to accomplish in the game. Feels like there’s kind of Phase 2 happening right now of Rory McIlroy’s life. What is your five-year plan for this next phase of Rory?

RORY McILROY: I don’t have one. I have no idea. I’m sort of just taking it tournament by tournament at this point.

Yeah, I have no idea.

Q. I know it’s probably a good problem to have, coming off the Grand Slam, but what is the difficulty of kind of resetting in these last couple of weeks, and what’s the challenge that you’ve found the last two tournaments at least, and as you go forward?

RORY McILROY: I think it’s trying to have a little bit of amnesia and forget about what happened six weeks ago. Then just trying to find the motivation to go back out there and work as hard as I’ve been working. I worked incredibly hard on my game from October last year all the way up until April this year. It was nice to sort of see the fruits of my labor come to fruition and have everything happen.

But at the same time, you have to enjoy that. You have to enjoy what you’ve just accomplished. I certainly feel like I’m still doing that and I will continue to do that.

At some point, you have to realize that there’s a little bit more golf left to play this season, here, Portrush, Ryder Cup, so those are obviously the three big things that I’m sort of looking at for the rest of the year.

But I think weeks like Quail Hollow or even weeks like last week, it makes it easier to reset in some way, to be like, okay, I sort of need to get my stuff together here and get back to the process and sort of what I’d been doing for that seven months from October last year until April this year.

Q. Have you settled on a driver that you want to use this week, first of all?

RORY McILROY: Yeah.

Q. What is it?

RORY McILROY: A TaylorMade. (Laughter.)

Q. What model?

RORY McILROY: I mean, come out and watch me hit balls, and you’ll see.

Q. Going back to the PGA, how big a factor was it that you didn’t have that gamer driver that you had used at the Masters?

RORY McILROY: It wasn’t a big deal for Scottie, so it shouldn’t have been a big deal for me.

Q. How tough is it to regain that motivation, and did you think it might be this difficult to regain motivation?

RORY McILROY: I didn’t know — look, you dream about the final putt going in at the Masters, but you don’t think about what comes next.

I think I’ve always been a player that struggles to play after a big event, after I win whatever tournament. I always struggle to show up with motivation the next week because you’ve just accomplished something and you want to enjoy it and you want to sort of relish the fact that you’ve achieved a goal.

I think chasing a certain goal for the better part of a decade and a half, I think I’m allowed a little bit of time to relax a little bit. But here at Oakmont, I certainly can’t relax this week.

Q. In the aftermath of the Masters Tournament, a lot more demands on your time, even more so than usual. What have you been doing off of the golf course to kind of get back to baseline, and in the personal sense, outside of golf?

RORY McILROY: Yeah, basically saying no to every request that comes in, trying to get home as much as possible, and trying to do the things that I enjoy. That was one of my goals for this year was to have more fun, and that’s what I’m trying to do.

I’m trying to have more fun. We’re trying to take more trips. We’re trying to — yeah, just trying to do things that I enjoy and get back to having hobbies and filling my time with the things that I want to do. I think that’s been a big — but that hasn’t just been post-Augusta. I’ve been trying to do that for a while.

I’ve started to play a lot of tennis again. Like Harry and Niall play tennis pretty much every week when we’re on the road, and I’ve always been like, I don’t want to injure myself, whatever, but I miss not playing. So Harry and I played quite a bit of tennis last weekend, so that was good fun.

Again, just, like, traveling and seeing the world and giving Poppy that opportunity to see the world at such a young age I think is a wonderful opportunity for her. Just that sort of stuff.

Q. When you won this in ’11, the golf course was soft, so there was this reputation building that soft was your friend, and you mentioned ’16, and that was the soft part of the resume for you with respect to this championship, and then the last six years you’ve been as good as anybody and you’re also really good on firm conditions. Explain the evolution of you being as good as you are in this championship now and also on firm conditions. Is it psychological? Is it ego driven? Is it physical? What is it?

RORY McILROY: I think it’s probably a combination of both, or everything. I didn’t like that reputation because I felt like I was better than that reputation, so that’s ego driven in some way.

But I allude to this all the time. I missed the cut at the U.S. Open in 2016, 2017 and 2018, and we were here in ’16, Erin Hills in ’17, which is what it is, and then 2018 at Shinnecock I felt — Shinnecock was a really hard one because I love that golf course, and to perform the way I did there, it really hurt me.

I made a decision to be like, okay, I want to — and then I would go back, I’d play Hartford the next week and I’d feel really comfortable on a PGA TOUR setup, and then I think it was that week where it clicked. It was like, why am I so comfortable here in Hartford but last week I had no clue what to do? So that’s when I made the decision at that back end of 2018 into 2019, I want to try to build my game around the toughest tests that we have in the game.

Then as you’ve seen since 2019, six top 10s in a row at this tournament, obviously finished second the last two years in a row, and I’ve definitely become a much more confident U.S. Open player and I’m way more comfortable on those firm, fast setups like you saw at Pinehurst last year and LACC the year before that.

Obviously the U.S. Open went from probably my least favorite major to probably my favorite because of what it asks from you, and I love that challenge.

Q. This might be a little bit of a silly question, but how much more of a factor is just finding the ball in the rough this week, let alone hitting it, compared to other U.S. Opens, other majors, other tournaments?

RORY McILROY: Yeah, I’m glad we have spotters up there because I played last Monday just in Druck’s outing, and you hit a ball off the fairway and you were looking for a good couple of minutes just to find it. It’s very penal if you miss. Sometimes it’s penal if you don’t miss. But the person with the most patience and the best attitude this week is the one that’s going to win.

Q. Besides the lost ball element, what did you learn about the course on your scouting trip, and what have you seen in how it’s changed in the weeks since then?

RORY McILROY: Yeah, there’s definitely been a little bit of rain since that Monday. Last Monday felt impossible. I birdied the last two holes for 81. It felt pretty good. It didn’t feel like I played that bad.

It’s much more benign right now than it was that Monday. They had the pins in dicey locations, and greens were running at 15 1/2. It was nearly impossible.

But yeah, this morning it felt — it was a little softer. The pins aren’t going to be on 3 or 4 percent slopes all the time. If you put it in the fairway, it’s certainly playable. But then you just have to think about leaving your ball below the hole and just trying to make as many pars as you can. You get yourself in the way of a few birdies, that’s a bonus.

Q. Rory, at THE PLAYERS you didn’t drive it great, at least early in the week, but yet you overcame it, fought your way through it and shot some good scores and obviously won. Is anything the same or similar that you’re going through now with that, and how do you sort of get through it when you’re having a tough day off the tee?

RORY McILROY: Yeah, PLAYERS, the rough is short. They probably cap it at two, two-and-a-half inches, and then if you go off the fairway, you’re in pine straw where you have a shot if you have a gap in the trees. It’s definitely more of a — you can play recovery golf at THE PLAYERS. This place won’t let you do that. You’ve got to chop it out and then just try to make a par with a wedge in your hand.

I felt like I drove the ball okay at Augusta, but again, it’s a recovery golf course. You hit it offline, you can find gaps in trees and you can do something with it. You miss a fairway here, you can’t really do anything with it unless you’re in the middle of a fairway bunker and you can get something over the lip.

Much more penal if you do miss it, and hopefully — I feel a little better with the driver over the weekend at home and even today playing a practice round, so hopefully I can hit a few more fairways than I have been hitting and give myself some opportunities.

Q. You mentioned just having to chop out every time you miss a fairway. Are there ever calculations where you might decide to go for it, and what would go into that thinking if a ball is in the rough?

RORY McILROY: Yeah, just the lie. Just whatever club you think you can get on it. If there’s a bunker to cover, if there’s — the good thing about this course is most of the greens have run-ups onto them. It’s not as if they’re forced carries on to greens. So if you have a half-decent lie in the rough, it gives you a chance to at least run the ball up to the front of the green if you’ve got a decent lie.

But decent lies in the rough are few and far between, so that’s why you have to — you don’t want to ride your luck on this golf course.

Q. Just a question about length versus strength. Is strength maybe more important at this golf course than most U.S. Opens, and is it maybe more important than length this week?

RORY McILROY: Look, you hit the ball in the rough and you’re not going to have any control of your ball going into the green, especially these greens that are pitched away from you. You have to be able to spin the ball going into these greens if you want it to finish anywhere close to where you want it to.

Saying that, the last two champions here did lead the field in driving distance. I watched quite a lot of 2016 over the weekend and just tried to get a feel for how the leaders played this golf course and what they did that I certainly didn’t do over the first two days.

But yeah, you’ve got DJ who obviously won and Cabrera in ’07. But you had a mix of players that were up there. You had Jim Furyk finished second in ’16.

So I think there’s different styles of games that can win here, but I certainly think that distance is never a disadvantage, and especially on this golf course.

But you want to combine distance with accuracy this week. That’s the recipe.

Q. Going back your whole professional career and even your amateur career, you’ve always been very skillful and comfortable talking about yourself and talking about this game. Not everybody is. I’m wondering where that comes from.

RORY McILROY: Probably because I love myself and I love golf. I’m pretty comfortable talking about both of those things.

Q. Did you have a kind of mentor for that sort of thing, Chubby or anybody else give you advice on how to do it?

RORY McILROY: No, not really. I think you’re always going to be really comfortable talking about subjects that you feel like you know a lot about, and I think I know a lot about golf, and especially my golf. There’s no one better to tell you about my game and what I’m thinking and how I’m feeling than me.

I’ve always enjoyed that. I’ve always enjoyed talking about the game. I’ve always enjoyed the challenge that it presents physically and mentally and trying to figure out a way to overcome those challenges.

Q. And your dad is a good talker?

RORY McILROY: My dad can talk with the best of them, yes.

The post RORY ON HIS HOPES FOR THE US OPEN INTERVIEW appeared first on Golf News.

RORY’S TRACK

Quail Hollow has been a favourable venue for McIlroy, where he has achieved four wins and ten top-10 finishes. His success is attributed to his exceptional driving and long-iron play, skills that are particularly advantageous on this course.

The field comprises 156 players, including top contenders like defending champion Xander Schauffele, world number one Scottie Scheffler, Bryson DeChambeau, and Cameron Smith. Notably, Tiger Woods will be absent as he continues to recover from surgery.

For viewers in the UK, live coverage will be available on Sky Sports, starting at 1pm on weekdays and 3pm over the weekend.

Here’s an overview of the key contenders and their current betting odds:

TOP CONTENDERS AND ODDS

 

 

 

Justin Thomas 16/1

NOTABLE OTHERS

 

Quail Hollow’s challenging layout, particularly the infamous “Green Mile” closing stretch, promises to test the mettle of all competitors. With a blend of seasoned champions and emerging talents, the 2025 PGA Championship is poised for an exciting showdown.

The post 2025 PGA CHAMPIONSHIP PREVIEW appeared first on Golf News.

Rory, you’re a four-time winner of the Truist Championship, but at Quail Hollow Golf Club, and this year we’re at the Philadelphia Cricket Club. Can you open up with some thoughts about defending at this historic course?

RORY MCILROY: Yeah, the last two times I’ve won the Truist Championship, I haven’t been able to defend on the same golf course the next year. We won in ’21 and then played Potomac, and won last year and then we’re here.

So it doesn’t quite feel like a defense, but it’s good to be here. It’s always at this stage of my career, it’s cool to come to new venues, see new golf courses, and do new things.

It’s been nice to play this golf course. I’ve heard a lot about this golf course, and to play it over the last couple days has been cool. I’m trying to learn a little bit about it and trying to come up with a strategy to play it.

Yeah, good to be here. First week, I guess, as an individual coming back and playing over the last few weeks. I’m excited to get back to being a golfer. It’s nice to get back into the routine again and get back to what I know how to do.

Q. You had a chance to play nine holes this morning. Can you just share a little bit more about maybe what’s standing out to you at this golf course?

RORY MCILROY: I played the back nine yesterday. I played the front nine today. It’s very similar to a lot of these old school courses that have been renovated over the past few years. A lot of trees have been taken out. The green complexes are, for me, the interesting thing about the golf course.

It sort of to me feels like a smaller version of Oak Hill, not a lot of strategy off the tee because there’s no real hazards. There’s some fairway bunkers, but if you avoid those, the rough’s not that long so it’s not a huge penalty.

A little simple off the tee, I guess, is the best way to describe it, but making sure with the second shots that you’re below the hole and trying to get to learn the greens a little bit more. Yeah, sort of a smaller, shorter version of Oak Hill is sort of how I see the course.

Q. Have you ever played much cricket?

RORY MCILROY: I played a little bit.

Q. Bat or bowl?

RORY MCILROY: A bit of both actually. I played a little bit at my — at Sullivan, which is the school I went to. Yeah, I was — I actually preferred bowling than batting. I never really wanted to get hit by the ball.

Q. You just implied there in your opening that you have your business hat back on. Are you keen after all the celebrating to kick back in now?

RORY MCILROY: Yeah, I don’t even think that — it’s not the — it’s not even the celebrating, it’s almost like the obligations that you have afterwards.

I wanted to go home and see my folks after, and then that was nice. But then having to play straight after in New Orleans, which is a different week and a fun week and I didn’t feel like I really had to prepare all that much. I could lean on Shane a little bit when I needed to.

But especially last week, I had Michael Bannon in town. We practiced for three days — Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday — but then I was up in New York for three days doing a few bits and pieces. So when I got back home and sort of got back more into my real routine Sunday, Monday, coming up here, it feels more — you know, that period is sort of behind me, and I’m looking forward to the next few months.

Q. You said it’s nice at this stage of your career to come to a new course, a new place. You talked a little bit about it just now, but what kind of stands out to you both on the course, on the area? And what’s the importance for the TOUR to come to new places?

RORY MCILROY: Look, Philadelphia is one of the best places in the U.S. for golf. There’s so many great courses around here. We’ve got — we’re playing the PGA at Aronimink next year. We’re playing the U.S. Open in ’30 at Merion. There’s a lot of great golf in this area.

It’s a beautiful spot. I feel like we don’t play enough tournaments in the Northeast, but a lot of the Northeast golf clubs are smaller venues like this, and just with how big these tournaments have become over the years, it’s very hard for a golf course like this to hold a big tournament. The logistical problems that that causes is the main issue.

As a golf course, it’s — look, I — it’s an older course that’s been renovated, and I think they’ve done a really good job with it. It’s just it was renovated, I don’t know, ten or I don’t know how many years ago, but it’s not like a brand new renovation.

I think, when it was renovated, it probably would have held up to the distances that were being hit, but even now ten years on, I feel like every par-4 out there is like 430, 440. They sort of feel like they’re 40 or 50 yards than what they need to be. Still, it’s a cool track to play.

Q. Literally around the world millions of people are wondering is this guy ever going to win the Masters? There was so much emotion vested in it. In your own mind, did you always have faith you would win it?

RORY MCILROY: I always had hope. It’s not as if I — I wasn’t going to show up at Augusta and feel like I couldn’t win. The week that I feel like that, I’ll go up there for the Champions Dinner and swan around in my green jacket, but I won’t be playing.

Yeah, I always had hope. I always felt like I had the game. And like I think, as everyone saw on that back nine on Sunday, it was about getting over — I don’t know what the right phrase is, but defeating my own mind was sort of the big thing for me and getting over that hurdle.

Look, I’m just glad that it’s done. I don’t want to ever have to go back to that Sunday afternoon again. I’m glad that I finished the way I did, and we can all move on with our lives.

Q. Did you always imagine the idea of putting on that green coat? Was that clear in your mind?

RORY MCILROY: No, that wasn’t really — to me, whenever I think about these things, I think about the golf. I think about the golf. I think about the sense of satisfaction of winning the tournaments.

No, I never imagined the Butler Cabin ceremony. I never imagined all the things. I imagined hitting the shots I needed to hit to win the golf tournament.

Q. Rory, you were talking a couple weeks ago how you wanted a club that carried 300 yards to be short of some necks in fairways. Is this a golf course that you’re still looking for that club, or is this a golf course where it’s going to be open season, hit driver everywhere?

RORY MCILROY: Yeah, you can send it. Every bunker seems to be about 300 to 310 to carry, which is thankfully fine. There’s one bunker on 9 that’s 331, but it’s down like 10, so it’s like 320 equivalent. That’s the longest one to try to get over. In good conditions I can, if it’s calm or a little bit of help.

Yeah, it’s basically open season. The way — I go back to Oak Hill a couple years ago at the PGA, and I tried to play the golf course strategically over the first couple of days, and I just realized that these new renovated old school courses, like the strategy is just hit driver everywhere and then figure it out from there. That’s sort of the strategy of this place this week.

Q. Is that still a club you’re looking for for the rest of the summer?

RORY MCILROY: For certain courses, I think it is, but I’ve always been apprehensive to just put a club in for a certain week. I like to get used to clubs. I know the characteristics of my 3-wood. I’ve been using that for over a year. Then I know the characteristics of my 5-wood. I know that, if anything, I’ll miss my 3-wood a little bit to the right, and if anything, I’ll miss my 5-wood a little bit to the left.

Every club has its own personality, and I think it takes time to learn what that personality is. So I’m pretty averse to changing a lot.

Q. Can you talk a little bit about the week going home after the Masters? What did you do? How was that experience? Did it help you recharge? I think Poppy might have been with you. How was that?

RORY MCILROY: Yeah, we all went over as a family — Poppy, Erica, and I — firstly to London to see our new house there that we’ve been building for the last couple years. So that was fun to see that. Then we spent the weekend in Northern Ireland. I wanted to see my folks and sort of my immediate family and Michael Bannon as well.

We did that. Look, it was amazing going home. I didn’t want any fanfare. I didn’t want to — I tried to keep it as private as possible. I just wanted to see my parents and the people that were closest to me, and we had a really nice two days.

With my dad, like I never get that emotional with my dad. It was great. It was great to see him. Then when I saw my mom, I — yeah, we were both a mess for a few minutes.

Look, as an only child, I have a bond. I’m lucky, and I know a lot of people feel this, that they have a close bond with their parents, but I think as time goes on and I’m getting a little older, I realize that they’re not going to be around forever. It means even more that they were still around to be able to see me complete the slam and fulfill those dreams.

Q.  Having just lived that yourself, how much does that weigh into what you’re thinking about versus just trying to win another major championship and let the grand slam be a by-product?

RORY MCILROY: It’s hard, I think, for Jordan having to do — you have to go back to the same tournament every year for Jordan, but not the same golf course. I think it’s a little bit of a different — it’s a bit of a different proposition for him rather than me having to go back to the same venue every year and trying to, I guess, do that as well.

As much as you try to get yourself in the right frame of mind to just try to win the golf tournament and then let everything else happen, it’s in there. Consciously or subconsciously, you feel that.

I said this to people, the worst I felt on Sunday at Augusta was probably when I held the birdie putt on 10 to go 4 ahead because I’m like, oh, I really can’t mess this up now. There’s that pressure.

You know that you’re not just trying to win another tournament, you’re trying to become part of history, and that has a certain weight to it. I’ve certainly felt that at Augusta over the years. I’m sure Jordan has felt that a bit going into each PGA that he’s had a chance to do the same thing.

Q. You mentioned things getting back to normal, but next week you’re going to arrive at a major for the first time in ten years without questions of the drought hanging over you. I’m curious, as things have settled and you approach the major, how do you feel differently now that that question’s no longer there?

RORY MCILROY: I think there’s a few things. I’m obviously going to feel more comfortable and a lot less pressure, and I’m also going back to a venue that I love. It’s nothing but positive vibes going in there next week with what happened a few weeks ago and then with my history there and how well I’ve played at Quail.

Yeah, it probably will feel a little bit different. I probably won’t be quite as on edge as I have been for the last few years when I’ve been at major championships. I’ll probably be a little bit better to be around for my family, and I’ll be a little more relaxed. I think overall it will be a good thing.

The post RORY MCILROY INTERVIEW: TRUIST CHAMPIONSHIP appeared first on Golf News.

Eight years after losing out to Sergio Garcia at Augusta National, Rose was beaten on the first extra hole by Rory McIlroy, who holed from short range for birdie after Rose’s attempt had narrowly missed.

“It hurts,” admitted Rose, whose 10th birdie of the day on the 18th hole in regulation had completed a superb closing 66.

“What are you going to do about it, though? I think I’ve already kicked on in my career when I finished second to Sergio here, played some of the best golf of my career, got to world number one.

“What do you choose to dwell on, you know what I mean? There’s no point in being too despondent about it and you look at all the good stuff that got me into this situation.

“You can’t skip through a career without a little bit of heartache. It’s not going to happen. If you’re willing to lift the big championships, you’ve to put yourself on the line.

“You have to risk feeling this way to get the reverse. It nets out.

“For me, it’s just about fulfilling my childhood dreams, really, and giving everything I’ve got and no regrets.

“I think that’s what it’s all about for me is just trying to look under every stone, push myself as hard as I can to be the best I can be, and I think that’s what being professional is.”

RUNNER UP

Rose also finished runner-up to Xander Schauffele in the Open Championship at Royal Troon last year and remains determined to compete at the highest levels at the age of 44.

“It doesn’t get any easier for sure,” Rose added. “I think as you go through your career, you kind of think, ‘oh, well, hopefully experience kicks in and certain things become easier’.

“But no, I feel like I’m having to be more disciplined and make more sacrifices now than I ever have. That, I would say, is what I’m trying to do. I’m willing to put in that work.

“The reason I’m willing to put in that work is for these occasions, these moments. Standing ovation on 18 when I finished, I took a moment, not knowing the result, but just soaking that in.

“That was obviously a nice moment because it was still what might be, what could be, but you’re still living the dream.

“Like one day, I won’t be competing this way at this tournament. So you know, for now, the hard work is totally worth it, to get these little moments, they are very special.”

One minor consolation for Rose is that his performance at Augusta has lifted him into the automatic qualifying places for this year’s Ryder Cup at Bethpage, where Europe will aim to retain the trophy Rose and McIlroy helped win in Rome in 2023.

The post Justin Rose has ‘no regrets’ after Masters play-off defeat appeared first on Golf News.

McIlroy defeated Justin Rose on the first hole of a play-off at Augusta National to join Woods, Jack Nicklaus, Gary Player, Ben Hogan and Gene Sarazen in having won all four major titles.

“Welcome to the club @McIlroyRory,” Woods posted on social media.

“Completing the grand slam at Augusta is something special. Your determination during this round, and this entire journey has shown through, and now you’re a part of history. Proud of you!”

McIlroy’s close friend Shane Lowry joked that McIlroy could happily retire after completing the career grand slam.

“This means everything to him,” Lowry told Golf Channel.

“This is all he thinks about, all he talks about. He always said to me he’d retire a happy man if he won the green jacket, so I told Erica (McIlroy’s wife) he can retire now.

“He’s had a long 10, 11 years, he’s had a lot of hurdles to get over and it’s a credit to him.”

Tommy Fleetwood, who finished 21st after a closing 69, added: “I’ve said it a bunch of times, I think Rory is the best player of our generation. I don’t think he’s had to prove that for a while.

“For him to have finally got this one, a career grand slam, is unbelievably special. I think this time was always going to come, it’s just Rory makes you feel like it’s not going to at some point.

“Whatever he did today, Rory’s place in golf (history) was secure, but this has just added another layer on top of that.

“I do believe he’s the best of our generation and now he’s one of the greatest of all time.”

PRESIDENT

The President of Ireland Michael D Higgins joined political leaders from across the island in celebrating McIlroy’s victory, calling it a “truly outstanding achievement”.

Northern Ireland’s First Minister Michelle O’Neill said the Holywood golfer’s “incredible” triumph placed him among the sport’s greatest.

“This is a huge moment in sporting history, and one that has filled everyone back home with great pride and that will undoubtedly inspire future generations to chase their dreams,” she posted on X.

“Enjoy the well-deserved celebrations, Rory!”

Irish premier Micheal Martin described the win as “epic”.

“The Green Jacket is yours Rory McIlroy,” the Taoiseach posted on X.

“A finish for the ages at Augusta to win The Masters and complete a richly-deserved career Grand Slam. Epic achievement by one of golf’s greatest talents.”

The post Tiger Woods leads reaction to Rory McIlroy’s Masters victory appeared first on Golf News.

McIlroy threatened to squander a five-shot lead with eight holes to play before holding his nerve to birdie the first extra hole after an extraordinary final day at Augusta National.

“It’s a dream come true,” McIlroy said. “I have dreamt about that moment for as long as I can remember.

“Watching Tiger (Woods) here in 1997 do what he did, winning his first green jacket, I think that inspired so many of my generation to want to emulate what he did.

“It feels incredible. This is my 17th time here and I started to wonder if it would ever be my time.

“The last 10 years coming here with the burden of the grand slam on my shoulder and trying to achieve it, I wonder what we’re going to talk about going into next year.

“I’m absolutely honoured, thrilled and proud to be able to call myself a Masters champion.”

McIlroy admitted it was “all relief” that made him sink to his knees after holing the winning putt, adding: “It was 14 years in the making, from having a four-shot lead (after three rounds) in 2011.

“There was a lot of pent up emotion that came out on the 18th green and a moment like that makes all the years and close calls worth it.”

McIlroy’s fourth birdie of the day on the 10th had given him a five-shot lead, but he inexplicably pitched into Rae’s Creek on the 13th to run up a second double bogey of the day and also dropped a shot on the 14th.

After a birdie on the 17th had seen him regain the lead, McIlroy bogeyed the 18th and was grateful for the intervention of his caddie Harry Diamond before the play-off.

“After scoring, Harry and I were walking to the golf cart to bring us back to the 18th tee, and he said to me, “Well pal, we would have taken this on Monday morning,” McIlroy said.

“I’m like, ‘Yeah, absolutely we would have’. That was an easy reset. I just kept telling myself, just make the same swing you made in regulation. And I hit a great drive up there and the rest is history.

“I had two yards less in the play-off than regulation and a flatter lie as well. It was a good number, just needed a committed swing and made one at the right time.”

JUSTIN MISSING OUT

A disappointed Rose has now lost the last two play-offs in the Masters after being beaten by Sergio Garcia in 2017.

“I really didn’t look at a leaderboard all day until the 18th green and realised I needed to make that putt to kind of give myself some hope,” Rose said.

“It’s the kind of putt you dream about as a kid, and to have it and hole it, it was a special feeling. Unfortunately, the play-off, they always end so quickly. That’s sudden death.

“If you’re not the guy to hit the great shot or hole the great putt, it’s over. But not really anything I could have done more today.”

Asked what he said to McIlroy as they embraced on the green, Rose added: “I just said, listen, this is a historic moment in golf, isn’t it, someone who achieves the career grand slam.

“I just said it was pretty cool to be able to share that moment with him. Obviously I wanted to be the bad guy today, but still, it’s a momentous occasion for the game of golf.”

The post ‘Dream come true’ – Rory McIlroy finally completes grand slam appeared first on Golf News.

McIlroy carded a second successive 66 at Augusta National to hold a two-shot lead over DeChambeau, who edged out the Northern Irishman in dramatic fashion to win his second US Open title at Pinehurst last year.

THREE IS THE MAGIC NUMBER

“It was an awesome day and puts me into a great position going into tomorrow,” McIlroy said after a third round which started with six straight threes and included eagles on the second and 15th.

“I think the big thing is not to make it a rematch, stay in my own little world.

“There’s a few other people who could make a run, I just have to stay in my own little bubble and approach the day with the same attitude I have the last few days.”

McIlroy began the third round two shots behind Ryder Cup team-mate Justin Rose, but birdied the first, chipped in for an eagle on the second and also birdied the third and fifth.

“Obviously it was a dream start,” McIlroy added. “Hit two perfect shots on one and converted, three perfect shots on two, three perfect shots on three.

“From finishing yesterday afternoon to teeing off today there’s a lot of anticipation and anxious energy and with all of that, to start the way I did was amazing.

“I had a little wobble around the turn there and I thought the par putt on 11 was huge to get some momentum back. After that all I was trying to do was take advantage of the par fives coming in and I was able to do that.”

BRIDGERTON

McIlroy said he had no idea how he spent Saturday evening in 2011 when he held a four-shot lead before collapsing to a closing 80, but would likely watch an episode of Bridgerton and keep off his phone tonight.

“I still have to remind myself there’s a long way to go,” he added. “I, just as much as anyone else, know what can happen on the final day here.

“I came in here talking about being the most complete version of myself as a golfer, I just have to keep reminding myself that no matter what situation I find myself in tomorrow I’ll be able to handle it.”

JAMES BOND

DeChambeau revealed his Saturday evening’s viewing would involve a Pierce Brosnan-era James Bond film as he relished the prospect of taking on McIlroy on Sunday.

“It will be the grandest stage that we’ve had in a long time, and I’m excited for it,” DeChambeau said.

“We both want to win really, really badly and there’s a lot of great players behind us, too. Got to be mindful of that and it’s about who can control themselves and who can execute the golf shots the best.

“On 15, 16, 17, 18 I just kept thinking to myself, just get in the final pairing. It’s always important in a major championship to try and be in the final pair.

“It was definitely fun knowing that it was Rory and knowing that we could have a good match up tomorrow. Like I said, we’re not the only players out there. There’s still a lot of great players. But it’s going to be a fun test.”

The post Rory McIlroy looking to avoid Bryson DeChambeau rematch in Masters finale appeared first on Golf News.