Rory McIlroy feels his game is ‘as sharp as it has ever been’ so early in the season, with a winning start to his PGA Tour campaign only fuelling belief that this could be the year he finally ends his major drought.
McIlroy secured an impressive victory at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am, where he played a six-hole stretch in five under on his way to a final-round 66 and two-shot victory over Ryder Cup and Olympic team-mate Shane Lowry.
The world No 3’s victory is his 27th PGA Tour title and leaves him with six top-four finishes in his last seven worldwide starts, with an early-season win also giving him confidence going into the major season and a Ryder Cup year.
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player
McIlroy tells Sky Sports’ Nick Dougherty that he is feeling good on the golf course and why he thinks his game is ‘pretty close’ to his peak
McIlroy’s bid to complete the career Grand Slam has dominated the build-up to The Masters – live from April 10-13 on Sky Sports – over the past decade, having registered 21 top-10s in majors without victory since his 2014 PGA Championship success.
The 35-year-old will once again be among the favourites for the opening major of the year, with the latest Sky Sports Golf podcast discussing McIlroy’s winning start to the year and his major hopes for the months ahead.
Subscribe now on: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Spreaker
“That chip on his shoulder is never going to go away with The Masters until he wins it or ends his career, which is something that he lives with ahead of every April,” David Howell told the Sky Sports Golf podcast. “That’s Rory’s great difficulty though, because here we are talking about it already.
“He’s a wise boy and just look where he is now compared to where he was Sunday evening of the US Open, which was devastating for him when Bryson [DeChambeau] won and he let that one slip away.
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player
Highlights from a thrilling final round of the 2024 US Open, where Bryson DeChambeau edged out McIlroy
“He’s smiling again. He’s happy. He’s content and he’s swinging well. It always went by that last week there was no waggles, no practise back swings – he just hitting the ball just so beautifully from tee-to green.
“If he can turn up at Augusta with that game, then he’s going to threaten. I think previous years, the last few, he hasn’t turned up with that in his locker.
“He’s trending well this time but only he can work out how to get across the finish line at Augusta National. I think he’ll win there one day and this nice start to his challenge this year.”
Major venues to boost McIlroy’s chances?
McIlroy has seven career top-10 finishes at Augusta National without ever securing his only missing major, although could this year’s major roster – including Quail Hollow, where he has won four times – help his chances of ending his major drought?
“His reaction when he holed the winning putt on Sunday was very telling,” Sky Sports’ Jamie Weir explained. “There wasn’t a fist pump, there wasn’t an emotional embrace with Harry [Diamond, caddie]. There was just a gentle little raise of the putter to the crowd.
“Another PGA Tour win for Rory McIlroy doesn’t mean anything – it’s about getting that major and we all know it’s 11 years since the last one.
“Augusta remains the monkey that needs to get off his back somehow, while Quail Hollow [PGA Championship] seems like somewhere he could win around with one hand tied behind his back.
“Oakmont follows and he has kind of become a US Open specialist in recent years. Then it’s Royal Portrush [The Open], where he hopes to make amends for that quadruple bogey he started with back in 2019.
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player
McIlroy reflected on making a winning start to his PGA Tour season and discussed what it could mean for the year ahead
“He will be targeting one of those majors or perhaps more than one?!”
Players back ‘unrivalled’ McIlroy to succeed
McIlroy’s playing partner Lowry said his Ryder Cup team-mate ‘took control’ at Pebble Beach on his way to victory, while Straka – completing that final threeball – described him as ‘the most impressive player’ he has played with.
The Northern Irishman still trails American duo Scottie Scheffler and Xander Schauffele at the top of the world rankings, although Laurie Canter – who won on the DP World Tour in Bahrain last weekend – believes McIlroy offers something different.
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player
McIlroy eagled the par-five 14th during the final round at Pebble Beach, extending his advantage over the chasing pack
“I think he’s the player that the players probably enjoy watching the most as well, if that makes sense,” Canter said. “Some of the stuff he does with the ball and I think his ability to go at kind of every pin as well is impressive, as a player watching another player.
“He is so entertaining to watch. I think tee-to-green, when he’s on, you’re watching someone special. I think everyone realises what he can do with a golf ball and, tee-to-green, he is unrivalled.”
Will McIlroy’s name be etched on a major trophy in 2025?
Where will McIlroy play next?
McIlroy will feature for Boston Common in the TGL over the coming weeks, while his next PGA Tour start is set to be the Genesis Invitational from February 13-16 – moved to Torrey Pines due to the wildfires in Los Angeles.
Watch Rory McIlroy feature on the PGA Tour and DP World Tour throughout 2025 live on Sky Sports. Get Sky Sports or stream with no contract on NOW.
