What more does Rory McIlroy have to achieve in 2026?

Now that Rory McIlroy has a lifelong invitation to the Masters Champions Dinner, there is surely a lingering thought in his mind of, ‘What next?’

He has won all four major championships at least once, and he has won another away Ryder Cup. He has earmarked an Olympic Gold Medal on his bucket list for one day, but we need to wait until 2028 for that possibility to come around again.

It was hard at the best of times to predict what Rory would do during a season, and that was when he had motivation to end a major drought of 11 years and was still chasing the career grand slam at Augusta National. He accomplished that by beating Justin Rose in a playoff, so in this game of predicting the future, we need to try and gauge what motivation he has now.

The majors will always be in the Northern Irishman’s mind, that’s for sure. Outside of the four big ones in the men’s game, we might only see McIlroy sparingly compete on the PGA Tour and the DP World Tour.

Speaking of the DP World Tour, McIlroy won the Race to Dubai for the seventh time in 2025, surpassing Seve Ballesteros’ haul of six titles. He now has Colin Montgomerie and his figure of eight in his sights.

The NCG team has thrown in their two pence on what McIlroy will achieve in 2026:

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What will the Rory McIlroy 2026 season look like?

Steve Carroll: With the grand slam finally secured, will Rory now unleash havoc – displaying the dominance his talent has always suggested in major championships?

Or, having climbed the mountain and with his legacy secured, will he coast through his final decade in the job?

The irritation he showed at times following the natural comedown of his era-defining Masters victory suggests there is still more he wants to achieve.

There is too much hoopla on the defending champion at Augusta for me to think he’ll win back-to-back green jackets. Aronimink, and the PGA Championship, looks best suited to his devastating driving.

What happens at Shinnecock Hills will depend on what the USGA do – or rather don’t – with the set-up and you’d never rule him out at Royal Birkdale.

I’d expect to see him contending throughout the major months, he’s too good not to be in the frame, and it would be folly to think he can’t grab a sixth major. At Aronimink.

Mike Robertson: How to top last year? I shed actual tears when he won The Masters. He will have a solid year and probably win 2/3 events – and I’ve gone for him winning the PGA Championship.

Matt Chivers: It is very tough to say what Rory will do in 2026. He’s at the peak, looking down and contemplating what else there is to achieve. Maybe going for Monty’s record and establishing himself as Europe’s best-ever is next. He’s certainly not planning on playing much golf, anyway.

Matt Coles: In terms of victories, the 2025 season was arguably McIlroy’s best since he won four times back in 2014 (a season which included wins at two of the four majors).

Of course, the major talking point for 11 years has been “Will Rory ever win the Masters to complete the career grand slam?”  Now, though, the shackles are off!

Admittedly, barring a T7 finish at the Open Championship, he did not perform that well in the rest of 2025’s majors, but I can see that changing in 2026. He can play freely, and without the monkey of an 11-year wait on his back. Whether he wins another major or not next year, I don’t know, but he will certainly be challenging in them all in my opinion. And maybe throw in an eighth Road to Dubai title to match the great Colin Montgomerie as well.

Darren Tear: He will play consistently well and be in the top three players in the world rankings, and win the PGA Championship.

Dan Murphy: There is no doubt he will absolutely bounce around Augusta in the build-up to the year’s first men’s major. One school of thought is he will now be unbeatable there, with his career fulfilled. Another is that he just won’t be as driven anymore. Personally, I would love to see him add a second Claret Jug to his collection, just up the road and across town from when his first one arrived over a decade ago.

Max McVittie: I can see him picking up at least one major. I’ve predicted him to win the PGA Championship but there is a case for him to win any of them, in truth. His game looks to be in a really strong place and bare any injury concerns I don’t see a massive fall-off in from.  

I know some people will point to the fact he’s achieved everything after his Masters triumph and may take his foot off the gas. Whilst I think that may have been the case at points last season, I think he’s far too strong of a competitor to not want to add to his major honours.  I’m not convinced we have to be worried about Rory McIlroy’s form in 2026. 

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