Rory McIlroy Ponders Retirement, Wants to Walk Away on His Own Terms

Rory McIlroy hints at early retirement, stating he'd like to walk away from golf before he's 50 and has no intention of competing on the PGA Champions Tour.

Rory McIlroy has achieved a new milestone in his career, securing two wins before the Masters for the first time. Despite this success, the 35-year-old from Northern Ireland is continuing to refine his game ahead of the 2025 Masters at Augusta National. McIlroy's victories at the Pebble Beach Pro-Am in February and The Players Championship in March have positioned him for a career-defining moment at Augusta.

McIlroy, a four-time major champion, is seeking to complete a career Grand Slam at the Masters. He will attempt to join an elite group of golfers, including Jack Nicklaus, Tiger Woods, Gary Player, Ben Hogan, and Gene Sarazen, who have won all four major titles. McIlroy's most recent outing was a shared fifth-place finish at the Houston Open, where he demonstrated his consistent form.

Despite his strong performances, McIlroy revealed that he has been experiencing some discomfort in his right elbow. In an interview with the Golf Channel, he mentioned that his elbow has been “bothering” him “a little bit” and that he plans to “get some treatment on that and make sure that that's OK going into Augusta.” McIlroy also made some adjustments to his driver, adding some loft in a bid to fine-tune his game before the Masters.

Rory McIlroy expressed his desire to continue refining his game despite his recent successes. “Still feel like I've got some stuff to work on. Still don't think like my game is absolutely 100% under the control I would want,” McIlroy said. He emphasized his commitment to making adjustments, stating, “We'll be working at home and making sure game feels good going into the Masters.”

McIlroy's performance in his last public rounds before the Masters did not entirely meet his expectations. He had hoped to see improvement in specific areas of his game, particularly his driving. “I wanted to see myself drive it a little bit better, which I haven't really seen,” McIlroy said. While he acknowledged some positive aspects of his game, such as his chipping and scrambling, McIlroy identified areas that require further attention.

McIlroy pinpointed his driving and short game as areas where he needs to focus his efforts. “I guess like short game-wise, I wanted that to be a little better,” he said. However, he was pleased with his scrambling and chipping, noting, “Chipping has been really good. I scrambled well, so that has been good to see.” McIlroy concluded by emphasizing the need to work on his driving, stating, “Still feel like I need to do a little bit of work off the tee and get the driver figured out.”

Rory McIlroy took the opportunity to visit Augusta National before competing in the Houston Open, familiarizing himself with the course ahead of the Masters. During his visit, McIlroy noticed the impact of storm damage on the 16th hole, particularly the loss of trees. “The loss of a few trees is definitely noticeable,” he observed.

McIlroy acknowledged that the changes to the 16th hole were significant, but noted that the green itself remains largely unchanged. “They've had to redo that green but it's exactly the same as what it was... apart from maybe a few less shadows on the green late in the day because of a couple of trees that were lost,” he said. McIlroy's visit to Augusta National provided valuable insight into the course conditions, which will help him prepare for the Masters.

Scottie Scheffler, the top-ranked defending champion, takes pride in knowing that Rory McIlroy has expressed admiration for his game and aspirations to catch up to him as the world's number one golfer. Scheffler acknowledged McIlroy's competitive drive, saying, “When you're a competitive guy like Rory is, I think you're always looking for some source of motivation.”

Scheffler recognized that even accomplished players like McIlroy need motivation to stay focused. He commented, “He has been out here for a long time and I think sometimes it can get a bit redundant playing the same events over and over and any source of motivation you can have when you're such a great player I think is a good thing.”

McIlroy, however, seems content with his current situation, suggesting that he doesn't feel like he's missing out on much. “I've had quite a bit of success, too, though, so I don't think there's a lot of missing pieces,” he said. This mindset indicates that McIlroy is confident and focused on his goals, rather than feeling envious or motivated by Scheffler's success.

Rory McIlroy acknowledged that he often observes and learns from his competitors, including Scottie Scheffler. “You're always looking around, seeing if there's certain things you can maybe take out of someone's game,” McIlroy said. He specifically highlighted Scheffler's impressive performance over the past couple of years, noting, “It's hard to not look at what Scottie's done the last couple years and not take notice.”

McIlroy identified specific aspects of Scheffler's game that he admires and has incorporated into his own strategy. He praised Scheffler's course management, saying that it has “forced me to maybe be a little more thoughtful and diligent with that side of it.” By studying Scheffler's approach, McIlroy aims to refine his own game and gain a competitive edge.

Contemplating Retirement

Rory McIlroy has begun to ponder the eventual end of his golfing career. When asked about his thoughts on retirement, McIlroy shared his perspective, saying, “I think when I've achieved everything I want to achieve in the game and I get to the point where I don't think I can maybe do that anymore.” He emphasized his desire to leave the game on his own terms, adding, “I'd also like to walk away with a little bit left in the tank. I don't want to be out there embarrassing myself. I'd like to walk away, maybe a little before I should.”

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— NUCLR GOLF (@NUCLRGOLF) April 4, 2025

McIlroy also made it clear that he has no intention of competing on the PGA Champions Tour once he turns 50. He jokingly stated, “Something has went terribly wrong if I have to compete at golf at 50.” This comment suggests that McIlroy is looking forward to exploring life beyond professional golf and has no plans to extend his competitive career into his 50s.