Much like the year itself, Rory McIlroy’s calendar can be divided into four seasons.
There is his first campaign, which begins in the Middle East and usually produces a trophy or two before the Northern Irishman arrives in the United States. After a series of matches on the PGA Tour, the Masters represents a season in its own right as it is the only tournament between McIlroy and the sixth player in the history of the game to complete the career Grand Slam.
The other three major championships close out this season, serving as a framework where McIlroy will continue to attempt to end a decade-long drought on golf’s biggest stage. Finally, there are the PGA Tour playoffs and the DP World Tour where Rory – in the midst of this major drought – continued to rack up one crown after another throughout the season.
For McIlroy, it’s these two seasons in between that get most of his attention, particularly the Masters. Ironically, these are the same two seasons where he continues to search for answers that have eluded him since late 2014.
In 2024, McIlroy has made a concerted effort to find these missing links. He never sniffed the top page of the leaderboard at the Masters but flirted with PGA Championship contention. And then his heart was wide open at the US Open. When the Open rolled around, McIlroy was just four rounds (or one tournament) away from his collapse at No. 2 Pinehurst. The early exit that followed was predictable.
McIlroy got back on his feet and shook off to finish the year – as has often been the case at this stage of his career. He won his sixth Race to Dubai title and made considerable progress with his iron play, which had previously hampered his chances in the latter part of tournaments.
In total, McIlroy has played in 27 world tournaments – his most since 2009 – and the most competitive rounds of his career.
Don’t expect this type of workload to continue for the 35-year-old.
“There are a few tournaments I’ve been to this year that I don’t usually play that I might not play next year,” McIlroy said. “For example, I’ve played the Cognizant in Palm Beach Gardens, San Antonio and Hilton Head. And I probably won’t play the first playoff event in Memphis. I mean, I finished dead last there this year and I only lost one spot in the playoff standings.”
Although McIlroy plans to play less in 2025, his lighter schedule might actually bring more benefits to his game down the line. In 2024, for example, McIlroy won three individual titles – the Dubai Desert Classic, the Wells Fargo Championship and the DP World Tour Championship – all of which came shortly after a layoff of at least several weeks.
This winning cadence isn’t necessarily unique either. In 2023, McIlroy won the CJ Cup in South Carolina a month after the DP World Tour season finale. His only start during the PGA Tour’s swing season marked the end of his calendar year, but he started again three months later in the Middle East where another trophy awaited him. The next time McIlroy entered the winner’s circle was at the Scottish Open where he reappeared after three weeks off.
Playing quality golf after more prolonged layoffs will be the name of the game for McIlroy in 2025. Why? Well if he can erase A After beating his four-round total in a major championship by coming in stronger mentally and physically, McIlroy will be a made man again.
Already a 25-time winner on the PGA Tour, his collection of trophies will continue to grow. The climb from 25 to 26 will be celebrated when it happens, and crossing the 30-win mark will grab headlines, but the two achievements would both pale in comparison to four becoming five in an area where McIlroy has tried more and produced less last time. decade.
