Who is Rory McIlroy?

One of the most gifted in the sport, Rory McIlroy is a five-time major winner, and the latest face of the Career Grand Slam Club.

McIlroy had the opportunity to move Stateside to play college golf, but opted to stay at home, playing amateur golf in Europe. He topped the World Amateur Golf Rankings, and was a member of European Walker Cup teams before turning professional.

His third professional victory was also his first major title. The Northern Irishman lifted the 2011 US Open, where his aggregate score of 268 was a new record for the tournament, as he finished eight shots clear of the field. That was followed by two wins at the PGA Championship (in 2012 and 2014), and the Open Championship in 2014. He had to wait 11 years, and go through plenty of close misses, before eventually completing the Career Grand Slam. McIlroy won the Masters Tournament in 2025, overcoming good friend Justin Rose in a sudden death playoff.

He has won the PGA Tour’s season-long FedEx Cup on three occasions, and the DP World Tour’s season-long Race to Dubai six times. He has also won the BMW PGA Championship and the Players Championship, the flagship events on the DP World Tour and the PGA Tour, respectively. McIlroy is a three-time Rolex Series champion, all of which came in 2023 and 2024. He won the Hero Dubai Desert Classic in both years, while adding the Genesis Scottish Open title to his cabinet as well. The 2024 season saw him win four times, including his sixth Race to Dubai crown thanks to a win at the DP World Tour Championship. A year later, the Northern Irishman claimed his seventh Race to Dubai title, moving into solo-second on the list behind only Colin Montgomerie.

McIlroy has been a key part of the European team for more than a decade, with seven Ryder Cup appearances to his name. He has 18 points across those seven events, with the European team winning on five occasions. He secured four points at the 2023 Ryder Cup at Marco Simone, helping Europe to win back the trophy.

Rory McIlroy | Player Profile

Personal Information

Name: Rory Daniel McIlroy
Born: May 4, 1989
Nationality: Northern Ireland
Residence: Jupiter, Florida, United States

Career

Turned Pro: 2007
Professional Wins: 45
Highest World Ranking: 1 – March 4, 2012

Best Results In Majors

Best Finishes:
– Masters Tournament – WON (2025)
– PGA Championship – WON (2012, 2014)
– US Open – WON (2011)
– Open Championship – WON (2014)

Professional Wins – 45

2009 (1) – Dubai Desert Classic
2010 (1) – Quail Hollow Championship
2011 (3) – US Open, Lake Malaren Shanghai Masters, UBS Hong Kong Open
2012 (5) – Honda Classic, PGA Championship, Deutsche Bank Championship, BMW Championship, DP World Tour Championship
2013 (1) – Emirates Australian Open
2014 (4) – BMW PGA Championship, Open Championship, WGC-Bridgestone Invitational, PGA Championship
2015 (4) – Omega Dubai Desert Classic, WGC-Cadillac Match Play, Wells Fargo Championship, DP World Tour Championship
2016 (3) – Dubai Duty Free Irish Open, Deutsche Bank Championship, Tour Championship
2018 (1) – Arnold Palmer Invitational
2019 (4) – The PLAYERS Championship, RBC Canadian Open, Tour Championship, WGC-HSBC Champions
2021 (2) – Wells Fargo Championship, CJ Cup
2022 (3) – RBC Canadian Open, Tour Championship, CJ Cup
2023 (2) – Hero Dubai Desert Classic, Genesis Scottish Open
2024 (4) – Hero Dubai Desert Classic, Zurich Classic of New Orleans, Wells Fargo Championship, DP World Tour Championship
2025 (4) – AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am, The PLAYERS Championship, The Masters Tournament, AMGEN Irish Open

Achievements and Awards

PGA Player of the Year – 2012, 2013-14
PGA Tour Player of the Year – 2012, 2013-14, 2018-19
Vardon Trophy – 2012, 2014, 2019, 2022
Byron Nelson Award – 2012, 2014, 2019, 2022
Race to Dubai Champion – 2012, 2014, 2015, 2022, 2023, 2024
European Tour Golfer of the Year – 2012, 2014, 2015
European Tour Players’ Golfer of the Year – 2012, 2014, 2015
Mark H. McCormack Award – 2012, 2014, 2015
FedEx Cup Champion – 2016, 2019, 2022

Rory McIlroy | What’s In His Bag?

Rory is part of Team TaylorMade, with the brand’s clubs in play throughout his bag. The four-time major champ wears Nike apparel and shoes.

Check out our full piece on what’s in Rory McIlroy’s bag here.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About Rory McIlroy

When and where was Rory McIlroy born?

He was born on May 4, 1989, in Holywood, Northern Ireland. McIlroy started playing golf at a very early age. His talent was recognized when he was still a toddler, hitting 40-yard drives at the age of two. McIlroy turned professional in 2007, at the age of 18.

Who is Rory McIlroy married to?

He married former PGA of America employee Erica Stoll in 2017, having been dating for two years prior. Their daughter, Poppy Kennedy McIlroy, was born in August 2020.

In the week of the 2024 PGA Championship, McIlroy filed for divorce from Stoll after seven years of marriage. However, just a few weeks later, the divorce was called off, with the pair apparently reconciling.

READ MORE: Rory McIlroy files for divorce from wife Erica Stoll
ALSO: Learn more about Erica here

How many major titles has Rory McIlroy won?

McIlroy is a five-time major winner, with those victories coming in a three-year spell between 2011 and 2014. He won the US Open in 2011, and followed that up with victory at the PGA Championship a year later. 2014 saw the Northern Irishman win two majors – the Open Championship and the PGA Championship for a second time. In 2025, he finally completed the Career Grand Slam by winning at Augusta National.

Did you Know?

Career Grand Slam

In 2025, the Northern Irishman won The Masters and finally got to slip on the famed Green Jacket. In doing so, he became just the sixth player in history to win all four men’s golf majors. McIlroy joined an incredible list, with only Gene Sarazen, Ben Hogan, Gary Player, Jack Nicklaus and Tiger Woods having earned the Career Grand Slam in the past.

First European to Win Three Different Majors

McIlroy’s major victories span the U.S. Open in 2011, the PGA Championship in 2012 and 2014, and The Open Championship in 2014, making him the first European golfer to have been successful in three different majors.

Part of the Elite ‘Three Majors Before 25’ Club

With his victory at the 2014 Open Championship, McIlroy joined an exclusive group including Jack Nicklaus and Tiger Woods as one of the only players to win three of golf’s four majors before turning 25.

Record Breaking 8-Shot Wins

Rory secured his first two major championships with 8-shot victories, matching the largest winning margins in the history of both the U.S. Open and PGA Championship.

Youngest Member of Europe’s Ryder Cup Team

In 2010, at just 21 years old, McIlroy became the youngest player to make the European Ryder Cup team, underlining his exceptional talent from an early age. He has gone on to be a focal part of the team ever since.