Rory McIlroy’s wait for a fifth major championship victory went on in 2024, but the Northern Irishman is out to ensure his drought comes to an end next campaign
Rory McIlroy has set his sights on finally winning the fifth major championship of his career next season, after enduring further heartbreak on the big stage in 2024.
McIlroy looked set to finally end his 10-year wait to become a major champion at the US Open in June, with the Northern Irishman holding a two-shot lead over Bryson DeChambeau with four holes to play. Three bogeys however followed for McIlroy, to allow DeChambeau to swoop in and clinch victory.
The loss at Pinehurst No. 2 was arguably his toughest since his last major triumph at the PGA Championship in 2014, meaning his wait to add a fifth flagship title to his CV will enter an 11th year.
The 2025 campaign will give McIlroy four fresh chances however to finally end his wait, starting with the Masters in April. He will also get the chance to play on home soil with The Open Championship returning to Royal Portrush, a venue he claims he has ‘unfinished business’ with.
“I can’t wait to go back to Portrush, because I feel like I’ve got some unfinished business there from last time, and we’ll obviously go back to Augusta for The Masters,” he told Sky Sports. McIlroy will also fancy his chances at the PGA Championship too, which is heading to Quail Hollow.
The PGA Tour star has won four times around the North Carolina track at the Wells Fargo Championship, and will be hoping to do the same on the major stage next May. “I love that we’re playing the PGA Championship at Quail Hollow in May, which is typically when we played the Wells Fargo,” he said.
Rory McIlroy missed out at the US Open ( Image: Getty Images)
“It’s when I know the golf course the best and sort of I know that it’s going to play, you know, the characteristics.” Despite falling short at the majors, McIlroy still enjoyed a succesful 2024, which included winning a sixth Race to Dubai title on the DP World Tour, equalling the great Seve Ballesteros.
For any normal golfer this would have been a year of success, but McIlroy is often held to a higher standard. “I think what the hard thing is in my position is your disappointments and your mistakes keep getting brought up to you every time that you get in front of a camera or you’re in a press conference or answering questions. That’s the tough part of this gig,” he claimed.
“At the same time, I am in a very fortunate position that this is what I get to do for a living. If I have to deal with what people deem are unfair expectations or are held to a higher standard than others, then so be it.”
