Rory McIlroy has enjoyed a stellar career on the PGA Tour but things haven’t always been plain sailing for the Northern Irishman.
McIlroy has won an incredible 29 times on the PGA Tour throughout his career to date, including five major championships.
He is also one of only six men in the history of the sport to have completed the career Grand Slam.
Who will win more on the PGA Tour in 2026 out of Scottie Scheffler, Rory McIlroy and Tommy Fleetwood?
Will anyone end 2026 with more PGA Tour wins than Scottie?
The 36-year-old has enjoyed more good times than most PGA Tour players, but he’s experienced his fair share of pain as well.
Rory McIlroy seems to be getting better the older he gets and he is definitely a much more well-rounded player now than when he was younger.
The five-time major winner is certainly more mature and patient on the golf course now than he once was.
The PGA Tour event where Rory McIlroy walked off the golf course mid-round
Back in March 2013, McIlroy began the season in really poor form.
He was knocked out early from the Accenture World Matchplay in his first event of the season and then headed to the Honda Classic in Palm Beach Gardens where things got even worse.
The Northern Irishman withdrew from the tournament while sitting at seven-over-par midway through his second round.
He headed straight to the parking lot and was asked repeatedly by reporters whether his withdrawal was due to a physical problem.
McIlroy replied, ‘no’, three separate times, before saying: “There’s not really much I can say, guys. I’m not in a good place mentally, you know?“
The man from Holywood, Northern Ireland, was clearly struggling at the time, and he did not win a single PGA Tour event that year.
However, he bounced back in 2014 by winning two major championships and there is a lesson there for us all.
Graeme McDowell noticed a big problem with Rory McIlroy
Not many people on the PGA Tour knew McIlroy better than Graeme McDowell back in 2013.
McDowell spoke to reporters after McIlroy’s withdrawal from the Honda Classic.
Are you concerned about Scottie Scheffler right now?
He is really struggling with his first rounds right now…
“His demeanor looks a little different,“ said Graeme McDowell.
“I felt like he was a little off with his golf swing on the range.
“There were a few moans and groans coming from the bay next to me. It’s normally a display. It’s normally a clinic.
“It’s superlatives coming from the coach and the caddie.
“That’s the sign of a guy who’s lacking a little technique in his swing and a little belief in his game.“
McIlroy went through a tough time in 2013, but there is no question that his experiences that year made him a better golfer moving forward.
He would have also appreciated the good times a lot more as a result of his struggles 13 years ago.
Receive exclusive golf news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
