Rory McIlroy, a four-time Major champion, has consistently set numerous records throughout his career. From his early days as a standout 16-year-old amateur from Northern Ireland, McIlroy has become one of the most successful European players in golf history, winning almost every major tournament except The Masters. Here are some remarkable records he has achieved:
2005: Record-breaking 61. In the 2005 North of Ireland Championship at Royal Portrush, the 16-year-old McIlroy made headlines by setting a new course record with a remarkable score of 61, featuring an eagle and nine birdies. This event marked a pivotal moment in his career, catching the attention of the wider golf world.
2007: Youngest European Tour Card Holder. Shortly after turning professional in 2007, McIlroy made history by becoming the youngest player to earn a European Tour card through tournament play. This achievement occurred in only the second tournament of his professional career at the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship.
2010: St. Andrews Masterclass with a 63.In the 2010 Open at St Andrews, McIlroy set the record for the lowest-ever first round in the championship, carding a 63. Despite facing challenges in the following days, including adverse weather conditions, he showcased resilience, ultimately finishing T3 for the tournament.
2010: Breakthrough at Quail Hollow.In 2010, Rory McIlroy secured his first PGA Tour victory at the Quail Hollow Championship in a record-breaking manner. At just 20 years, 11 months, and 28 days, he became the youngest winner in the tournament’s history, setting a new 36-hole total record with a remarkable 16-under 128 on the weekend.**2011: US Open Triumph and Records. In 2011, McIlroy achieved his first Major victory at the US Open, breaking multiple records.
Notably, he set a new 72-hole aggregate score record with a 16-under 268, surpassing legends like Jack Nicklaus, Lee Janzen, Tiger Woods, and Jim Furyk. Additionally, he became the fastest player in US Open history to reach double digits under par, accomplishing this feat in just 26 holes.
2011: €10M Earnings Milestone. At the age of 22, in 2011, McIlroy marked the beginning of his record-breaking earnings, becoming the youngest golfer to reach €10 million in career earnings on the European Tour.2012: Dominant Eight-Stroke PGA Win.
In 2012, McIlroy secured his second Major victory at the PGA Championship, winning by a record-breaking eight strokes and surpassing Jack Nicklaus’ previous largest winning margin record. 2012: $10M PGA Tour Earnings.
Following his European success, McIlroy became the youngest player to surpass the $10 million mark in PGA Tour earnings in 2012, winning four times on the tour, including the PGA Championship. 2014: European Major Triple Crown.
After winning his third Major at the 2014 Open, McIlroy became the first European golfer to achieve victory in three different Majors— the US Open, PGA Championship, and The Open.
2019: Top 10 World Golf Rankings. In 2019, McIlroy surpassed Tiger Woods’ record by becoming the youngest player to spend 500 weeks inside the top 10 of the world golf rankings.2022: Triple FedEx Cup Winner. In 2022, McIlroy made history by winning the FedEx Cup for the third time, overcoming a six-stroke deficit on the final day.2022: Record-Breaking Earnings. Continuing his financial success, McIlroy broke his own record for the most money earned in a single PGA Tour season in 2022, amassing $28.3 million.2023: Unique Triple Crown in UK and Ireland Opens. McIlroy made history in 2023 by becoming the first golfer to win The Open, Irish Open, and Scottish Open, adding to his 2014 Open crown and 2016 Irish Open win.2023: PGA Tour Driving Distance Record. Even at 34 years old, McIlroy broke the PGA Tour record for driving distance in the 2022/23 season, averaging an impressive 326.3 yards, surpassing Bryson DeChambeau’s previous best.
