McIlroy Aims to Keep Momentum Going into PGA Championship

Rory McIlroy enjoys career Grand Slam achievement, shifts focus to PGA Championship after emotional Masters win.

Rory McIlroy is savoring the achievement of completing a career Grand Slam after winning the Masters last month.

The 36-year-old Northern Irish golfer doesn't want additional challenges as he looks ahead to this week's PGA Championship, having just overcome an eight-year major drought with his emotional win at Augusta.

“I've achieved everything that I've wanted,” McIlroy said Wednesday.

“I've done everything I've wanted to do in the game. I dreamed as a child of becoming the best player in the world and winning all the majors. I've done that.

“Everything beyond this, for however long I decide to play the game competitively, is a bonus.”

McIlroy avoids watching videos of his Masters win, instead choosing to hold onto the emotions of the moment.

“I've tried not to watch it a lot because I want to remember the feelings,” McIlroy said, a moment that still moves him to tears.

“When I rewatch a lot of things back, I then just remember the visuals of the TV rather than what I was feeling and what I was seeing through my own eyes.

“But anytime I have, I well up. I still feel like I want to cry.

“I've never felt a release like that before, and I might never feel a release like that again. That could be a once-in-a-lifetime thing, and it was a very cool moment.”

McIlroy wants to enjoy his achievement without adding pressure.

“I think everyone saw how hard having a North Star is and being able to get over the line,” McIlroy said, referring to his career Grand Slam goal.

“If I can just try to get the best out of myself each and every week, I know what my abilities are. And if I keep turning up and trying to do that, especially in these four big ones a year, I know I'll have my chances.”

McIlroy's focus has shifted to simply enjoying the game.

McIlroy said, “I think everyone saw how hard having a North Star is and being able to get over the line,” indicating he's achieved his major goal and now focuses on playing without specific targets.

“I feel like I sort of burdened myself with the career Grand Slam stuff, and I want to enjoy this. I want to enjoy what I've achieved, and I want to enjoy the last decade or whatever of my career, and I don't want to burden myself by numbers or statistics. I just want to go and try to play the best golf I can.”

"I don't know what he was expecting. We're trying to win the Masters. I'm not going to try to be his best mate out there."

Rory McIlroy explained why he did not speak with Bryson DeChambeau during the final round of the Masters. 👇 pic.twitter.com/QLAEfjR0P7

— Golf Digest (@GolfDigest) May 14, 2025

Career Grand Slam Exceeds McIlroy's Expectations

Winning the career Slam has been even more than McIlroy dreamed it would be.

“It's everything I thought it would be,” McIlroy said. “The outpouring of support and congratulatory messages has been absolutely amazing.”

“Everyone needs to have goals and dreams, and I've been able to do something that I dreamed of for a long time. I'm still going to set myself goals. I'm still going to try to achieve certain things.

“But I sit here knowing that that very well could be the highlight of my career.

“That's a very cool thing. I want to still create a lot of other highlights and high points, but I'm not sure if any other win will live up to what happened a few weeks ago.”

Bryson DeChambeau expressed surprise that McIlroy didn't engage in conversation during their Masters final round pairing.

McIlroy responded, ”I don't know what he was expecting. We're trying to win the Masters. I'm not going to try to be his best mate out there.”