Rory McIlroy

Rory Daniel McIlroy (born 4 May 1989) is a Northern Irish professional golfer who competes on the PGA Tour and the European Tour. A former world number one in the Official World Golf Ranking who has held the top spot for over 100 weeks, he is a six-time major champion. McIlroy is the sixth player—and the first European—to complete the modern career grand slam. He has represented Europe at the Ryder Cup in every edition from 2010 to 2025, winning six times, and has represented Europe, Ireland, and Great Britain & Ireland in both amateur and professional competitions.

McIlroy was born in Holywood, County Down, Northern Ireland, as the only child of Gerry McIlroy and Rosaleen McDonald. Introduced to golf at a young age by his father, he became the youngest-ever member of Holywood Golf Club at age seven and received early coaching from Michael Bannon. As an amateur, McIlroy won the U10 World Championship at age nine and later secured titles at the 2002 Ulster Boys' U15 Championship and 2003 Ulster Boys' U18 Championship. He was part of the winning European team at the 2004 Junior Ryder Cup, won both the West of Ireland and Irish Close Championships in 2005, and set a course record 61 at Royal Portrush's Dunluce Links. In 2006, he won the European Amateur and represented Europe at the Bonallack Trophy and Ireland at the Eisenhower Trophy. McIlroy reached number one in the World Amateur Golf Ranking in early 2007, won the European Amateur Team Championship with Ireland, earned low amateur honors at the 2007 Open Championship, and played in the 2007 Walker Cup before deciding to leave school to focus on golf.

McIlroy turned professional in September 2007, quickly becoming the youngest affiliate member to earn a European Tour card. He achieved his first professional win at the 2009 Dubai Desert Classic at age 19, entered the top 10 of the world rankings, and finished second on the Race to Dubai. Joining the PGA Tour for 2010, McIlroy secured his first PGA Tour victory at the Quail Hollow Championship with a final-round 62. That same year, he tied the course record of 63 at St Andrews during The Open Championship, tied for third at the PGA Championship, and made his Ryder Cup debut in Europe's victory.

In 2011, McIlroy earned his breakthrough major title at the U.S. Open at Congressional Country Club, setting 36-hole, 54-hole, and 72-hole scoring records (268, −16) to win by eight strokes. By age 25, he had collected three additional major titles: the 2012 PGA Championship, the 2014 Open Championship, and the 2014 PGA Championship. After a decade without a major title, McIlroy won the 2025 Masters Tournament to complete his career grand slam, and successfully defended his title by winning a second consecutive Masters in 2026.

McIlroy's additional prominent victories include three FedEx Cup titles, making him the first three-time winner of the trophy, as well as win at The Players Championship in 2019 and 2025. Over the course of his professional career, McIlroy has been named PGA Tour Player of the Year three times and has earned the European Tour's Harry Vardon Trophy seven times.