Whatever happens over the remaining months of the year, this has surely been one of the most remarkable seasons of Rory McIlroy’s career.
Rory McIlroy went into the year off the back of a turbulent 2024. Of course, the most notable moment came when he ended up finishing second at the US Open. Following his agonising finish at Pinehurst, it was impossible not to wonder whether the Northern Irishman would ever win another major.
He certainly did his best to throw it away at The Masters. However, the 36-year-old was ultimately able to get across the line following a playoff with Justin Rose. You could almost see the weight being lifted from McIlroy’s shoulders as he collapsed in a heap on the 18th green after getting across the line.
The problem McIlroy then had was that he seemingly did not consider what he would do once he climbed the mountain. And that led to a frustrating few months for the European.
Dan Rapaport grades Rory McIlroy’s major championship season so far
McIlroy looked like he would rather be anywhere else than the golf course for the majority of the PGA Championship and the US Open. He had not performed worse in either major since at least 2021.
Some may feel that he has a point to prove at The Open Championship. He missed the cut at Royal Portrush in 2019. And few would have imagined that he would reach the final major of the year awaiting a fourth victory of 2025 after completing the Career Grand Slam.
But speaking on Dan on Golf, Dan Rapaport insisted that the fifth major win makes all the difference as he graded McIlroy’s major championship season.
“We’re going to start with Rory McIlroy. So his results in the majors so far, he won The Masters, finished tied for 47th at the PGA Championship, he finished tied for 19th at the US Open. Now you might think, ‘oh Dan’s going to give him a B’. [I’m giving him] A+,” he said.
“A+, he won The Masters. Let’s not forget, he won The Masters and then he stopped trying as hard for a month. And now he’s trying hard again. It’s no more complicated than that.”
Unfinished business for Rory McIlroy at The Open Championship after plenty of disappointment in recent years
The 2022 Open Championship began the recent run of near-misses in the majors for McIlroy which left many questioning whether his wait for a fifth major would ever end.
McIlroy found himself in the final group on Sunday at St Andrews. However, he simply could not buy a putt at The Old Course, and that opened the door for Cameron Smith to win the Claret Jug.
The 2024 Open was a difficult one for McIlroy. He had barely played after the US Open and just did not appear to be ready for the demands of Royal Troon. He was one of several big names to miss the cut that week.
McIlroy struggled with the driver at the Scottish Open this past week, but still managed to finish in a tie for second. That bodes extremely well for the coming days.
Should he put himself in the mix at Portrush, there will surely be no debate over what grade McIlroy’s season deserves.
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