Rory McIlroy Reflects on Grand Slam Glory
Rory McIlroy was absolutely buzzing after his big win at The Masters in Augusta last month. Standing on the 18th green, emotions took over as he finally joined the elite group of players who’ve completed golf’s Grand Slam. The world number two admitted things were a bit of a blur in the days that followed as he tried to take in the fact that he now owns that iconic green jacket.
Hard Work Behind the Scenes
McIlroy felt confident heading into Augusta. His strong performance wasn’t luck it came from a solid off-season where he put in serious work to build consistency in his game. That effort has paid off big time over the last six months. By the time he drove up the famous Magnolia Lane in early April, he’d already picked up two major PGA Tour wins in 2025. Adding The Masters made it three for the year and easily the most meaningful.
“Let’s Not Get Ahead of Ourselves”
Speaking with RTE Sport’s Greg Allen ahead of this week’s PGA Championship, McIlroy kept things in perspective. “People are already talking about the calendar Grand Slam when I’ve just won my first major in ten years,” he laughed. “The key thing is, I feel really good about my game. I won in Dubai last year, and that gave me some great momentum heading into 2025. I’ve just kept playing steady, high-level golf.”
Back to Business
After Augusta, life was a whirlwind of attention and celebration. But McIlroy was happy to get back into his routine last week in Philadelphia to prep for the US PGA Championship. “Those three weeks after Augusta were hectic,” he said. “I didn’t have much time to train properly. Last week gave me a chance to reset, tweak a few parts of my game, and get back into the structure that’s worked for me all year.”
Playing Freely Again
For McIlroy, finally breaking the 10-year major drought has lifted a weight off his shoulders. In recent years, pressure at the majors sometimes kept him from playing the free, instinctive golf he’s known for. “When I play free, I play my best,” he said. “Winning The Masters will help me stay loose in those big moments.”
A Special Bond with Quail Hollow
As for this week’s course, Quail Hollow is familiar ground for Rory and a place that feels like home. He’s won there four times over the last 15 years. “It’s just one of those places where I’ve always felt comfortable,” he said. “Some courses suit my style more than others, and Quail Hollow has definitely been one of them.”
