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Ernie Els and Retief Goosen visited the White House, showcasing the power of golf diplomacy.

Rory McIlroy’s long-awaited Masters victory back in April was the culmination of over a decade of heartache. The long road to the green jacket began all the way back in 2011 when the Northern Irishman held a four-stroke lead heading into Championship Sunday. From there, however, he proceeded to shoot a disastrous seven over par, and it took him 14 years to recover.

In his ultimate success in 2025, it looked as though those same demons would rear their head once again. McIlroy once again held a lead heading into the final round, this time by two strokes rather than the four of 2011. The lead was pushed out to five strokes by the time he reached the back nine, but then, just as they did all those years ago, the wheels well and truly came off.

Wee-Mac bogeyed the 11th, before a double bogey two holes later saw three strokes shaved off his lead. A rallying Justin Rose had emerged as a contender, and McIlroy’s bogey on the 18th meant the two Brits would face a grueling playoff to crown a champion. Ultimately, it was the Northern Irishman who held his nerve, birdying while Rose could only manage a Par to secure the victory.

Now, with the biggest monkey finally off his back, attention turns to the future. Could 2025 be the year of Rory?

PGA Championship: Familiar Territory, Favorable Odds

May’s PGA Championship at Quail Hollow in North Carolina is the first up in McIlroy’s quest for immortality, and online betting odds providers currently price him as the 5/1 joint favorite alongside American sensation Scottie Scheffler. For those unfamiliar with placing bets, using an online betting odds calculator, such as the popular one at Thunderpick, shows that a $100 bet would return $500 in winnings, in addition to the $100 stake already wagered.

Much of his listing as the joint favorite comes from the fact that the venue couldn’t be more suited to McIlroy’s game. The 36-year-old has a sparkling history at the course, having won twice at the Wells Fargo Championship there. Now, though, he is aiming to win one of the game’s biggest prizes at one of his favorite courses, and his relationship with the PGA Championship is equally notable.

McIlroy is a two-time PGA champion, last winning in 2014 when he outdueled Phil Mickelson at Valhalla in dramatic fashion. That particular triumph was his second in three installments of the competition after winning for the first time in 2012, and it remains the only major that Rors has won more than once. This year, he is looking to make it a famous hat trick, 11 years on from his most recent triumph.

His most recent performances at the PGA, though, form a mixed bag. He finished 22nd the last time Quail Hollow hosted the championship in 2017 and hasn’t cracked the top five in the past decade. Yet Quail Hollow’s layout, with its long par-fours and demanding closing stretch nicknamed “The Green Mile,” could play into McIlroy’s hands. His ability to drive the ball monstrous distances and his resurgent putting confidence in 2025 make him a daunting contender. Add three PGA Tour wins already this year, including a statement victory at Augusta, and McIlroy appears poised to banish the ghosts of middling finishes here.

US Open at Oakmont: Can Rory’s Ball-Striking Tame Brutal Conditions?

The US Open has historically been McIlroy’s toughest challenge, even though this was where he first broke through for his maiden major victory at Congressional in 2011. His eight-shot margin of victory that week remains one of the most dominant performances in modern major history, but since then, dominant displays have been sorely lacking.

The Northern Irish star’s track record in the storied tournament has largely faltered over the last decade, especially on punishing setups like Oakmont Country Club. The Pennsylvania course is renowned for its lightning-fast greens, penal bunkers, and narrow fairways, demanding precision over raw power. The last time McIlroy played here, he missed the cut in 2016. It’s no surprise, then, that he’s slightly further down the odds board this year, currently the 6/1 second favorite behind 5/1 frontrunner Scheffler.

That said, McIlroy’s game in 2025 looks more complete than it has in many years. His tee-to-green precision has been as solid as ever this term, and he showcased a sharper short game at Augusta that ultimately propelled him to the green jacket. Oakmont will
test his ability to grind through the brutally difficult stretch of consecutive pars that define US Open success. If McIlroy can avoid the mistakes that often creep into his second and third rounds at majors, he’s talented enough to contend.

The Open at Royal Portrush: Homecoming With a Chance at Legacy

If there’s a major that feels preordained for McIlroy to dominate, it’s The Open. This year’s showdown is back on home soil at Royal Portrush in Northern Ireland, marking the first time that the action has taken place in the country since 2019. The venue is particularly meaningful to the hometown hero, who grew up less than an hour from its hallowed links.

He experienced heartbreak the last time The Open was played here six years ago when an opening-round 79 derailed his hopes, only to mount a stirring Day 2 charge that fell agonizingly short. Fast forward to 2025, and McIlroy is carrying a greater sense of purpose than ever before. He previously lifted the Claret Jug in 2014 at Royal Liverpool and has frequently played well on links-style courses, owing to his creativity and ball flight control. His odds of 11/2 reflect both his pedigree and the favorable storyline attached to this major.

The Open’s unpredictable conditions, from gusting winds to changing weather, will challenge him immensely. Yet if the Masters was any indication, McIlroy seems more prepared than ever to handle final-round intensity and lead chases from the pack. He has finally shown that he can see out a victory when leading into the final round, while he has persistently chased down huge deficits in recent majors. Now, the time has come for a homegrown victory at Portrush that would elevate McIlroy into the pantheon of the greats.