Q&A → Rory McIlroy Majors
What Majors Has Rory McIlroy Won?
Rory McIlroy's major championship journey is one of the defining stories in modern golf — rapid early success followed by an 11-year wait for Augusta, then a dramatic culmination at the 2025 Masters that completed the Career Grand Slam, followed by a historic back-to-back Masters win in 2026.
Rory McIlroy's 6 Major Championships
| # | Year | Major | Venue | Score / Margin | Age |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2011 | US Open | Congressional CC | -16 / Win by 8 | 22 |
| 2 | 2012 | PGA Championship | Kiawah Island | -13 / Win by 8 | 23 |
| 3 | 2014 | The Open Championship | Royal Liverpool | -17 / Win by 2 | 25 |
| 4 | 2014 | PGA Championship | Valhalla GC | -16 / Win by 1 | 25 |
| 5 | 2025 | Masters Tournament | Augusta National | -13 / Career Grand Slam | 35 |
| 6 | 2026 | Masters Tournament | Augusta National | -12 (playoff) / Back-to-Back 🏆 | 36 |
The Story Behind Each Win
2011 US Open — Congressional CC (Age 22)
Rory's breakthrough major. He obliterated the field at Congressional, posting a final score of -16 and winning by 8 shots. At 22, it announced him as the next great player in world golf. The victory came after his infamous Sunday collapse at Augusta earlier that year, when he had a 4-shot lead going into the final round and shot 80.
2012 PGA Championship — Kiawah Island (Age 23)
Another dominant performance, again winning by 8 shots. Rory set the then-72-hole scoring record for the PGA Championship. Back-to-back dominant major victories before his 24th birthday made him the most exciting player on the planet.
2014 Open Championship — Royal Liverpool, Hoylake (Age 25)
Rory controlled Hoylake with brilliant course management, avoiding the rough by hitting irons off the tee all week. He won his first Claret Jug by 2 shots over Rickie Fowler and Sergio Garcia, posting a final round 71 to hold off the field.
2014 PGA Championship — Valhalla (Age 25)
Two majors in the same calendar year. Rory held off a dramatic late charge from Phil Mickelson and Rickie Fowler to win by a single shot. At 25, he had 4 majors. The Career Grand Slam — needing only the Masters — seemed inevitable. It wasn't.
2025 Masters — Augusta National (Age 35)
Eleven years after his fourth major, Rory finally slipped on the green jacket. Augusta had been a source of heartbreak since his famous 2011 Sunday collapse. He came close several times — including a near-miss in 2022 — before finally breaking through in 2025. The emotional reaction as he walked up the 18th captured years of pent-up expectation. He became the 6th player in history to complete the Career Grand Slam, joining Gene Sarazen, Ben Hogan, Gary Player, Jack Nicklaus, and Tiger Woods.
2026: Rory Goes Back-to-Back at Augusta
Rory McIlroy won the 2026 Masters at -12, defeating Scottie Scheffler in a playoff. He joined just three other players who had won back-to-back Masters titles:
- Jack Nicklaus — 1965 & 1966
- Nick Faldo — 1989 & 1990
- Tiger Woods — 2001 & 2002
McIlroy's 2026 Masters victory cemented his status as one of golf's all-time greats. With 6 major championships and back-to-back Masters titles, he has firmly established his place among the legends of the game.
McIlroy vs. Historical Greats
| Player | Majors | Masters | US Open | The Open | PGA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jack Nicklaus | 18 | 6 | 4 | 3 | 5 |
| Tiger Woods | 15 | 5 | 3 | 3 | 4 |
| Rory McIlroy | 6 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| Scottie Scheffler | 4 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 |