Rory McIlroy shares what he really wants to do with Jack Nicklaus before he retires

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Rory McIlroy has a good relationship with many of golf’s legendary players, including Tiger Woods and Jack Nicklaus. 

The Northern Irishman is a keen golf historian and always pays respect to those who paved the way for his generation.

McIlroy is even close enough to Nicklaus that they met up to discuss strategy at Augusta National before the 2025 Masters.

The 36-year-old has now revealed one more thing he would like to do with Nicklaus before he retires from the PGA Tour.

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Rory McIlroy wants to win Jack Nicklaus’ Memorial Tournament

McIlroy has achieved so much this year that many golf fans wonder whether he will still be motivated next season and beyond.

He finally completed the career Grand Slam at The Masters, won the Irish Open in front of his home crowd, and helped Europe win an away Ryder Cup. 

Woods and Nicklaus would tell you there is no harm in repeated success, but there is nothing quite like winning something for the first time.

McIlroy has now named two PGA Tour events that he would like to win before he retires, with Nicklaus being a significant factor in one.

“I would say the Memorial Tournament would be a nice one to win, to shake Jack’s hand on the back of the 18th green there,” he said.

“Riviera is another one; Tiger hosts that one. There are still a few out there that I want to knock off.”

As McIlroy insinuated, Nicklaus hosts the Memorial Tournament at Muirfield Village and presents the trophy to the winner.

Special moments like that are exactly why McIlroy is still determined to play more outstanding golf in the foreseeable future.

Rory McIlroy has never won the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship either

Another tournament that McIlroy has yet to win is the DP World Tour’s Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship.

McIlroy has contended at the event several times without getting over the line, but he feels like he now has a better chance than before.

That’s because the tournament was moved to November last year after previously being held at the start of the season.

“One thing I would say is that since this tournament has moved to this time of the year, I feel like it’s, I don’t want to say easier to win, but you’re more in the season, whereas I feel like it was always my first start of the year,” McIlroy said before this week’s tournament.

“I may have gotten off to a slow start, found my feet in the last two days, and I’d go to Dubai and win that one. It’s more like you’re sort of in the run of the season here.

“So you’re maybe a little sharper, and you know where your game is at. I’m not saying it’s easier to win because of that, but I would say there’s a better chance this time of the year. This is one I’ve been close to winning and haven’t.”