Rory McIlroy has been one of the best golfers in the world over the last decade-plus. The 33-year-old superstar has frequently ranked in the top 10 worldwide and spent a fair bit of time in the No. 1 overall spot.
He also had a lot of success at major tournaments in the early stages of his career. But he has experienced a dry spell in recent years.
McIlroy has been in contention at plenty of major tournaments, but he hasn’t won one since 2014. He will look to change that at the 2022 PGA Championship, which has historically been his best major.
Here’s a look at McIlroy’s performance at majors and the PGA Championship as he gets ready to tee off in a stacked three-man group along with Tiger Woods and Jordan Spieth.
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How many majors has Rory McIlroy won?
McIlroy has four major tournaments:
- U.S. Open
- PGA Championship (twice)
- British Open
When was the last time Rory McIlroy won a major?
McIlroy hasn’t won a major championship in nearly eight years. He emerged victorious at the PGA Championship in 2014, at Valhalla Golf Club in Louisville, Ky.
McIlroy trailed by one stroke after the first round but moved into sole possession of first place after 36 holes. He staved off fierce competition from Phil Mickelson, Rickie Fowler and Henrick Stenson in the final round to earn a one-stroke victory, making par on the 18th hole. He shot 16 under for the event, and it marked his second consecutive major win.
A breakdown of McIlroy’s four rounds at the event:
| Round | Score (to par) | Overall score (to par) |
| 1 | 66 (5 under) | 66 (5 under) |
| 2 | 67 (4 under) | 133 (9 under) |
| 3 | 67 (4 under) | 200 (13 under) |
| 4 | 68 (3 under) | 268 (16 under) |
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Has Rory McIlroy won the PGA Championship?
Not only has McIlroy won the PGA Championship, but it is the only major he has won twice.
McIlroy first won the PGA Championship in 2012 at Kiawah Island Golf Resort’s Ocean Course at Kiawah Island, S.C. He ran away with the event, carding an 11-under score over the last two days of the tournament and winning by eight strokes. It remains the largest margin of victory at the PGA Championship.
A breakdown of McIlroy’s round-by-round performance at that event:
| Round | Score (to par) | Overall score (to par) |
| 1 | 67 (5 under) | 66 (5 under) |
| 2 | 75 (3 over) | 142 (2 under) |
| 3 | 67 (5 under) | 209 (7 under) |
| 4 | 66 (6 under) | 271 (13 under) |
McIlroy also won the PGA Championship in 2014 at Valhalla Golf Club in Louisville, Ky. He shot 16 under and held off Phil Mickelson, Rickie Fowler and Henrick Stenson to win by one stroke.
A breakdown of McIlroy’s scorecard from that tournament:
| Round | Score (to par) | Overall score (to par) |
| 1 | 66 (5 under) | 66 (5 under) |
| 2 | 67 (4 under) | 133 (9 under) |
| 3 | 67 (4 under) | 200 (13 under) |
| 4 | 68 (3 under) | 268 (16 under) |
What major has Rory McIlroy not won?
McIlroy has yet to win the Masters, though he has come close on several occasions. He finished second in 2022, with Scottie Scheffler denying the Northern Irishman the career Grand Slam.
He has participated in the event every year since 2009 and he has logged seven top-10 finishes in those 14 appearances.
McIlroy’s results at Augusta by year:
| Year | Finish | Score to par |
| 2009 | T-20 | 2 under |
| 2010 | T-69 (cut) | 7 over |
| 2011 | T-15 | 4 under |
| 2012 | T-40 | 5 over |
| 2013 | T-25 | 2 over |
| 2014 | T-8 | Even |
| 2015 | 4 | 12 under |
| 2016 | T-10 | 1 over |
| 2017 | T-7 | 3 under |
| 2018 | T-5 | 9 under |
| 2019 | T-21 | 5 under |
| 2020 | T-5 | 11 under |
| 2021 | T-67 (cut) | 6 over |
| 2022 | 2 | 7 under |
Rory McIlroy majors timeline
McIlroy first participated in a major tournament in 2007. He competed in the British Open and finished tied for 42nd as the low amateur.
McIlroy debuted at every other major in 2009. Since then, he has participated in all four majors every year with two exceptions. He didn’t play at the British Open in 2015 because of an ankle injury, and the 2020 event was canceled because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
McIlroy won his first major in 2011 at the U.S. Open. He ran away with the tournament, winning by eight strokes. He and Robert Garrigus became the fifth and sixth players to shoot under par in all four rounds in a single U.S. Open championship.
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McIlroy followed his success with his win at the PGA Championship in 2012. He won his third and fourth majors back-to-back in 2014 at the British Open and PGA Championship.
All told, McIlroy has participated in 56 majors during his career. He has logged 24 top-10 finishes in those events: seven at the Masters, six at the U.S. Open, six at the PGA Championship and five at the British Open.
McIlroy’s best tournaments overall are the PGA Championship and the Masters. He has missed the cut a combined three times at those events and has won the PGA Championship twice. His best major season was in 2014, when he won the PGA and the British Open, finished tied for eighth at the Masters and tied for 23rd at the U.S. Open.
A rundown of each of McIlroy’s major victories, including the winning score to par and margin of victory:
| Tournament | Score to par | Winning margin |
| 2011 U.S. Open | 16 under | 8 strokes |
| 2012 PGA Championship | 13 under | 8 strokes |
| 2014 British Open | 17 under | 2 strokes |
| 2014 PGA Championship | 16 under | 1 stroke |
