Rory McIlroy has sent a clear message to his US PGA rivals: now that he has completed the career grand slam, everything else is a bonus. As the Northern Irish golfer tees off at Quail Hollow for the US PGA Championship, his first major since capturing the Masters title, he is playing with the freedom that comes from having achieved every goal he once set for himself.
McIlroy’s victory at the Masters last month marked a monumental milestone in his career, making him just the sixth man in golf history to win all four major championships. The emotional scenes at Augusta National, where he fell to the ground after a tense playoff victory over Justin Rose, remain fresh in his mind. Rather than dwelling on the visuals of that moment replayed on television, McIlroy prefers to hold onto the feelings he experienced at the time a rare release of emotion that may never come again.
“I have achieved everything that I’ve wanted,” McIlroy said. “I dreamed as a child of becoming the best player in the world and winning all the majors. I’ve done that. Everything beyond this, for however long I decide to play competitively, is a bonus.”
The newfound sense of completion means McIlroy is no longer setting concrete targets or chasing specific numbers. While he acknowledges he is within reach of Nick Faldo’s record for the most major wins by a European, McIlroy is not fixated on surpassing milestones or being weighed down by statistics. Instead, he aims to focus on playing his best golf week after week, especially in the four major tournaments.
“I’ve always said I’m never going to put a number on it,” he explained. “I’ve talked about trying to become the best European ever or the best international player ever or whatever that is. The numbers tell one story, but it mightn’t be the full story. I feel like I burdened myself with the career grand slam stuff and I want to enjoy this what I’ve achieved and the last decade or whatever of my career. I don’t want to burden myself by numbers or statistics. I just want to go and try to play the best golf I can.”
His confidence in his own game is evident. McIlroy has enjoyed remarkable success at Quail Hollow, with four wins and nine top-10 finishes in 13 starts. The course’s recent wet conditions, caused by heavy rain since Friday, play to McIlroy’s strengths with his driver, adding a tactical advantage as he seeks to build on his Masters momentum. He believes that he is capable of excelling in any conditions, firm or soft, and has the skill set required to adapt to the demands of each course.
Asked if there was any part of his game he would trade with another player, McIlroy was unequivocal: “I wouldn’t trade.” The 36-year-old’s sense of contentment and self-assurance is clear. He has nothing to prove and no need to chase records for their own sake.
The recent fallout with Bryson DeChambeau, who noted McIlroy did not engage with him during their final round together at Augusta, highlights McIlroy’s focused and uncompromising approach. “I was trying to win, not be his mate,” McIlroy said. His priority on the course is to maximize his own performance, not socialize or make friends while competing at the highest level.
This laser focus, combined with the psychological release from achieving his career grand slam, makes McIlroy a formidable contender heading into the US PGA Championship. While he has reached the pinnacle of golf, the way he describes the next phase of his career is striking: he’s simply playing with house money free from pressure, expectations, or the burden of unfinished business. The rest, he says, is just bonus.
