Finding motivation is the most important thing for Rory McIlroy to do this year.
After Rory McIlroy won The Masters to complete the career Grand Slam, he became a shell of himself. He was chippy with the media, his on-course form deteriorated, and he looked like a lost soul searching for a sense of purpose.
McIlroy had spent the better part of a decade chasing a Green Jacket. After his Masters meltdown in 2011, this had been a demon hovering over him, and after he finally slayed it there remained a big question for the Northern Irishman. What next?
He appears to have answered that question since. McIlroy returned home for The Open Championship and was met by an incredible reception. This seemed to spark life back into the 35-year-old. McIlroy then won the Irish Open and an away Ryder Cup to complete perhaps his best-ever season.
And heading into 2026, McIlroy said there are still three things that he’s desperate to do before he calls it quits on his golfing career.
Rory McIlroy sets three clear goals for the rest of his career
McIlroy has won nearly everything there is to win in golf, but there are still some things he wants to achieve. And prior to the Dubai Desert Classic where he is playing this week, he listed those things clearly.
The Northern Irishman told reporters, “Olympic medal. Open at St Andrews. Yeah, maybe like a U.S. Open at one of those like old, traditional golf courses, whether it’s Shinnecock this year or Winged Foot or Pebble Beach, Merion.
Which golf course would you like to win a title at most?
“Yeah, I would say those. Again, like I keep saying, I would have told you two years ago, if I won the Masters, it would have been great, and I could have retired or whatever. But when you keep doing things, the goal posts keep moving, and you just keep finding new things that you want to do.
“So yeah, I’m sure if I were to achieve those things, which geez, I hope that I do, I’d probably give you more stuff in four years’ time. I think when you’re a competitive person, that’s just the way you’re wired and sort of the way we operate.”
McIlroy won the Pebble Beach Pro-Am last year, but he’s never won a pro event at St. Andrews or won a medal at the Olympics. It’s good to see there are things still driving McIlroy forward after achieving the accomplishment of a lifetime at Augusta last year.
When Rory McIlroy can next achieve his three career goals
The US Open is at the iconic Shinnecock Hills this year, which will give McIlroy an immediate opportunity to tick one of these goals off the list in 2026. In fact, the next five US Opens are all ones he’d love to win.
America’s national open then goes to Pebble Beach, Winged Foot, Pinehurst No. 2, and Merion, giving McIlroy five straight opportunities to win the event at incredible venues.
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Tough decisions! 🤔
- Pebble Beach Pro-Am
- Arnold Palmer Invitational
- The Players Championship
- Memorial Tournament
As for The Open Championship, the Claret Jug can next be won at the Home of Golf, St. Andrews, in 2027, meaning he will only have to wait another year for his next opportunity to win at the Old Course.
The next Olympic Games will be in Los Angeles in 2028, with the iconic Riviera Country Club hosting the golf event. That means McIlroy can complete all three of these career aims over the next three years if all goes his way.
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