Rory McIlroy - 5 Time Major Winner and Grandslam legend

AlanWatts · 30-09-2025 02:25PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123863808#Comment_123863808

pga for life US open is only one he has to qualify for after his 5 year exemption to play in it for winning the masters expires

blackwhite · 30-09-2025 02:38PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123864287#Comment_123864287

The organisers award "special exemptions" for certain non-qualified players also. Nicklaus received one for as long as he wanted to enter it; Tiger used one in 2024.

I'd expect as a career Grand Slam winner, he'd be awarded one any time he requested and wouldn't need to qualify.

prawnsambo · 30-09-2025 06:51PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123863514#Comment_123863514

The decision to move to England was reportedly because Erica couldn't stand the heat in Florida. I imagine being close to his parents would be part of it too. Wentworth would be a favourite haunt of well known golfers.

But I imagine he'll be living in Florida some of the time when he's playing on the PGA Tour.

This last weekend would have cemented the decision I suspect.

Pdoghue · 02-10-2025 12:39PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123863885#Comment_123863885

Another away Ryder Cup win maybe as he had already achieved this in 2012.

MayoSalmon · 02-10-2025 01:06PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123863808#Comment_123863808

He basically does play it full time by playing nearly all the meaningful events...unless your expecting him to be going to Turkey, Belgium and China...I doubt even the Full time members can be arsed with many of those events.

Panrich · 03-10-2025 08:12AM

I don’t think anyone would blame Rory for turning his back on the PGA tour after this. It would be hard to mentally prepare for tournaments when you know what is barely concealed below the surface of the American public these days.

Augusta will always be fine because they don’t tolerate any rowdy behaviour but lots of other tournaments like the Phoenix open and it’s coliseum on the 16th where bad shots are actively booed are becoming increasingly popular and promoted.

FazyLucker · 03-10-2025 08:39AM

Yes, the Phoenix Open is great craic as a season opener but that behaviour is definitely extending to other tournaments.

No European player is going to be respected if going down the stretch on a Sunday against an American player.

It first showed its ugly head with DeShambles and Rory at Pinehurst last year.

Augusta would not tolerate it and maybe the prestige of Sunday at The Masters might help them control it (given the consequence that you'd never be let back in again) but no other course has the same level of crowd control. Even at the start of the final round of The Masters this year - the crowd were getting on DeShambles side and it would probably have been raucous if it had been him v Rory rather than Rory v Rosie at the end.

daithi7 · 03-10-2025 11:30AM

Hmmm, yes the yanks are very partisan in supporting one of their own & that extends to abuse of the foreign players. Nonetheless, the prestige, money & rewards are still in playing the PGA tour imho. E.g. Fed Ex Cup, WR points, etc, etc.

Also, with his brilliant golf, and his very strong stance on LIV, Rory is actually quite the hero on the PGA tour normally. He'd be mad to turn his back on it now imho, and more importantly, I don't think he will until maybe he reaches his fifties, tbh.

AlanWatts · 03-10-2025 01:47PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123872655#Comment_123872655

He can do whatever he wants now. Discounting Tiger I don't think any current player is as exempt as Rory. Outside of pride there is no incentive to retain a top 50 world ranking as he won the Masters. He has life status of PGA tour since he won his 20th title. The only thing he might need an invite to in future wud be designated events and the US open. Not sure bout The Players.

Hopefully he can translate all that freedom into a few more big wins.

slave1 · 06-10-2025 09:32AM

Rory is 100% on the wind down now, it will be a long wind down but it's deffo started

daithi7 · 06-10-2025 09:44AM

https://waterfordwhispersnews.com/2025/09/08/mcilroy-given-freedom-to-drive-irish-roads-in-golf-cart-after-irish-open-win/

Proper order!! ;)

hold my beer · 06-10-2025 09:47AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123881953#Comment_123881953

Have you a shred of evidence backing this up?

slave1 · 06-10-2025 11:57AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123882008#Comment_123882008

Have you listened to him recently, his moving away from the States, his demeanour, off to play in India and Australia, the amount of signature PGA events he missed last year (4), this isn't a court case

prawnsambo · 06-10-2025 12:25PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123882502#Comment_123882502

He's moving away from the states at the behest of his wife who hates the Florida climate. I suspect Poppy coming to school age is also a factor, does he really want her doing shooter drills in school?

His demeanour? How much of his demeanour (not sure what we're talking about here) is down to having eventually got the Masters monkey off his back?

He missed the Sentry (didn't play in it last year either), the RBC Heritage (the week after he won the Masters) and the Memorial in favour of The Canadian Open.

So not exactly the smoking gun you seem to think it is. Not sure where you're finding the fourth one, he played five of the eight - Pebble Beach, Genesis, Arnold Palmer, Truist and Travelers.

slave1 · 06-10-2025 12:55PM

First of the payoffs.

Wifey is an easy excuse.

Sure it's an opinion, time will tell, I think he's winding down and we'll see less of him where we saw him before and he will travel more to play courses and events while he's still at the top of his game and his schedule will be Rors dictated and not any Tour or sponsor decision.

slave1 · 06-10-2025 12:59PM

Just had a look at his ranking events this year and last, down from 26 this time last year to 22 this year

daithi7 · 06-10-2025 01:14PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123882740#Comment_123882740

Maybe, but remember this was a Ryder Cup year also, so that's an extra mega event. And he said he was prioritising this 2 years ago!!

Also this year he won the Masters, and hence a career Grand Slam. Any guy, bar maybe Tiger Woods in his heyday, is going to take a small breather after all that in a season!!

So this season he's won the Masters, Irish Open, Ryder Cup, etc, etc and joined 1 of only 6 golfers ever to win a career Grand Slam of majors.

One word - Wow!!!

prawnsambo · 06-10-2025 01:22PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123882740#Comment_123882740

Four tournaments. One of which was the Dubai Invitational at the beginning of the year, a pretty nothing pro-am tournament, the Genesis, the week after the Masters and the Alfred Dunhill, the week after the Ryder Cup. The fourth one was the Olympics which wasn't on this year.

Wifey is an easy excuse.

I'm sure there are other reasons he can't give. Like the school shooting one or the febrile atmosphere in the US right now. It's not a good place to live, especially Floriduh. I'm sure his experience at the Ryder Cup has helped cement the decision.

AyeGer · 14-10-2025 12:25PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123872655#Comment_123872655

Fully agree, it must sting after how much he stood up for the PGA Tour when LIV came on the scene. Some of those abusive American fans seem to have forgotten that.

Mars Bar · 09-11-2025 10:45AM

McIlroy putting a serious final round together in Abu Dhabi but I don't think he has enough holes left to play to take the Falcon trophy. Course is playing too easy for that

daithi7 · 13-11-2025 11:43PM

Started today in Dubai with a great 66!!

Go Rory!!

sReq | uTeK · 16-11-2025 10:29PM

What an eagle, but wasn't to be in the playoffs.

Super year.

Trampas · 03-12-2025 08:12AM

On the tee box around 8pm this evening. Sky showing his round

Russman · 05-12-2025 09:09PM

Interesting change up in equipment, going to some cavity irons. Wonder if it will be permanent or just a "lets try it in the off season" thing ?

https://www.golfmagic.com/equipment/news/rory-mcilroy-shock-equipment-switch-he-jumps-major-club-trend-2026

daithi7 · 18-12-2025 09:10PM

BBC Sports Personality of the Year -

Go Rory!!

P.s. and Tommy Fleetwood & he also accepted the team award on behalf of the 2025 Ryder Cup team.

Fantastic stuff!!!

Mushy · 19-12-2025 12:11AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124080895#Comment_124080895

Had to be him, imagine achieving sporting immortality and then being overlooked for this.

Dan Steely · 19-12-2025 12:16AM

Yeah, had to be Rory. Should more golfers have won over the years? Only two prior.

big_drive · 19-12-2025 09:14AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124081319#Comment_124081319

Golf isn't really a sport that exists on the radar of many people. In the UK they have had big names over the years in soccer, rugby, athletics, etc. They were all going to get chosen ahead of a golfer

Comhrá · 19-12-2025 11:14AM

Delighted for Rory. His achievements in 2025 alone make him a worthy recipient.

He's a national treasure at this stage and probably the most successful sportsperson ever to emerge from the island of Ireland. Well done.

slave1 · 19-12-2025 12:17PM

Grand Slam, Order of Merit, RC win on US soil along with other PGA/ET wins, was only going to one guy

Rory McIlroy - 5 Time Major Winner and Grandslam legend

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