Rory McIlroy had a superb 2025 season as he cemented himself as one of the very best golfers in modern history.
McIlroy’s Masters win and finally achieving the grand slam is one of ’25’s greatest sporting moments.
Furthermore, the Northern Irishman also added consistency to his game, winning three times on the PGA Tour as well as adding the Irish Open to his resume.
Who is the better player: Rory McIlroy or Scottie Scheffler?
McIlroy was also key in Europe’s Ryder Cup success as he once again showed he is the man for the occasion for Luke Donald’s team.
However, there is one tournament on the PGA Tour calendar that McIlroy has yet to win and after skipping the event in 2025, McIlroy simply has to get involved and try and win in 2026.
Why Rory McIlroy has to win The Memorial in 2026
In 2025, Rory McIlroy opted to skip the Jack Nicklaus-hosted event as he prepared for Canada and the US Open instead.
At the time, McIlroy drew some criticism but he will argue that his year on the whole proved he was right.
However, it remains that McIlroy has never won The Memorial. Ever. And going into 2026, this is something he has to look to change.
Over the years, we’ve seen the very best win out at ‘Jack’s Place’. Tiger Woods won five times, while Tom Watson, Greg Norman and Bryson DeChambeau have all tasted success around Muirfield Village.
Current world number one, Scottie Scheffler, has won the last two Memorial events, further putting something on his CV that McIlroy doesn’t have.
Put simply, while McIlroy’s legacy is cemented in general, this very much feels like a tournament he needs to tick off and win before he finishes up. Yes, he has done nearly all he can in golf but that iconic handshake with Nicklaus as golfers leave the 18th green is something McIlroy needs to experience.
Of course, should McIlroy not win at The Memorial, then it won’t exactly put too big a blot on his career.
But like all golfers, there’ll always be an element of what might have been and when McIlroy does eventually call it a day, he’ll surely look back with annoyance if he hasn’t managed to win out at Muirfield.
Rory McIlroy’s record at The Memorial
Apart from 2015, last year was the first time McIlroy hasn’t played in the Memorial since he played his first event there in 2010.
Over the years, McIlroy has been there or thereabouts in terms of top spot but has never quite challenged enough to be seriously in contention.
Rory McIlroy completed the career Grand Slam with his 2025 Masters win
His best finish remains the T4 he nabbed back in 2016, although recent history suggests he is getting more comfortable around the place.
McIlroy has finished inside the top 20 on the last four occasions, with a T7 coming in 2023.
Still, he has yet to get it over the line and after skipping the event in 2025, it seems inevitable that McIlroy will try and add The Memorial to his already impressive CV in 2026.
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