Golf
How many majors does Rory McIlroy have? When was the last time he won a major tournament?
Northern Ireland’s Rory McIlroy had a heartbreaking finish at the 2024 US Open Championship. Two missed putts in the final stretch cost him his fifth major.
Rory McIlroy’s missed putt on the 18th green at the 2024 US Open Championship left the Northern Irishman with the same number of majors as he has had over the last ten years. He has four majors to his name, but the most recent of those victories came a decade ago.
Which majors has McIlroy won?
Having turned pro in 2007, McIlroy secured his first major four years later, when he finished eight strokes ahead of Jason Day to win the 2011 US Open. The PGA Championship title followed in 2012, before 2014 brought his first Open Championship victory. A month after lifting the Claret Jug at the Royal Liverpool Golf Club, McIlroy then triumphed for a second time at the PGA Championship, edging out Phil Mickelson by a stroke to regain the Wanamaker Trophy.
Rory McIlroy's major titles
- 2011 US Open
- 2012 PGA Championship
- 2014 Open
- 2014 PGA Championship
McIlroy among fastest to four majors
Per ESPN, McIlroy’s 2014 PGA Championship win saw him become the fourth-youngest men’s golfer to claim four majors. At 25 years and 98 days old, he was only older than Young Tom Morris (21 years, 146 days), Tiger Woods (24 years, 206 days) and Jack Nicklaus (25 years, 81 days).
McIlroy’s fourth major title also led Nicklaus, whose career haul of 18 majors remains unsurpassed, to back the then-youngster to challenge his status as the game’s most decorated player. “I think Rory has an opportunity to win 15 or 20 majors or whatever he wants to do if he wants to keep playing,” Nicklaus said.
However, although McIlroy now has a total of 26 tournament wins to his name on the PGA Tour, he has been unable to add a fifth major.
“I’m as close as I’ve ever been”
“I’m really proud of my body of work over the past 15 years and everything that I have achieved, whether it be season-long titles or individual tournaments or majors,” he said ahead of the US Open. “Obviously, getting my hands on a fifth major has taken quite a while, but I’m more confident than ever that I’m right there, that I’m as close as I’ve ever been.” Let’s hope he can bounce back from that disappointing finish.