“Everything beyond this, for however long I decide to play the game competitively, is a bonus.” These were the exact words of Rory McIlroy as he described his journey in golf beyond the Career Grand Slam. Sitting at the 2025 PGA Championship Press Conference, he also added, “I have achieved everything that I’ve wanted — 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.”
From a 10-year-old who practiced golf driving the ball in his mother’s washing machine to becoming the Grand Slam champion 20+ years after his idol, Tiger Woods, achieved the feat, the Irishman has come a long way. And now that he has reached this point, the pressure is off him.
Rex Hoggard and Ryan Lavner discussed the new reality of Rory McIlroy’s life in the latest episode of the Golf Podcast with Rex & Lav. Hoggard was a part of the group of journalists who questioned the 36-year-old about his goals going forward. Considering the same, Lavner asked him if he had noticed any change in McIlroy’s behavior as he makes his first major appearance since achieving the Career Grand Slam. Hoggard stated that the 29-time PGA Tour winner looked satisfied with his career, having accomplished everything that he dreamed.
Observing the Irishman up close at Quail Hollow, the analyst confirmed, “It’s enlightening to watch how he just walks lighter now. You can see the pressure, that burden on his shoulder has been lifted. He’s decided that I’m going to enjoy whatever is left.”
The shift in attitude of Rory McIlroy has come after years of struggles, where he tried to achieve that one goal in his career. But he is free from the 11 years he spent as a slave to the Career Grand Slam achievement. So when the reporters inquired if there is any other checklist that he wants to complete in the future, McIlroy simply said, “I don’t want to.” He expressed the fact that he wants to enjoy what he has achieved, and his goal now is to just “go and try to play the best golf I can,” no strings attached!
Coming back to the podcast, Lavner jumped into he conversation as he mentioned how he understood that the Irishman has reached a level of “satisfaction” and “contentment”. However, he compared the situation to Tiger Woods, who was not as expressive and never content. Pushing his limits is what helped Woods rack up such outstanding career statistics. But the fact that McIlroy doesn’t want to go there shows how different they are. And that’s what Ryan also believes, as he stated, “Those two players, Tiger and Rory, are built dramatically different. I just think, maybe he was just saying it publicly because then he didn’t want to burn himself with a number… I certainly understand that and not want to burden himself after dealing with this for the past decade.”
“I do think it would be a shame if there is some sort of let off or some sort of disappointment,” Lavner said, voicing the concern of the community. While everyone is excited to watch what McIlroy can produce after the burden has been lifted off of him, they would be disappointed to learn that the 5-time major winner is not pushing himself to reach greater heights.
As the Golf Channel reporter appropriately phrased it, “You just don’t want to see him take the foot off the accelerator. You’d love to see him push the finish line and see exactly how good he could become.” Not a word here is wrong, as Rory McIlroy is a generational talent who can certainly try to reach the heights some of the greatest golfers in history have achieved.
via Imago
While Grand Slam Rory dwells on his achievements, there might be a point where he decides that he needs more. At least that is what his fans would hope for. But what can his next goal in golf be?
Rory McIlroy’s new checklist after achieving the Grand Slam dream
As Xander Schauffele admitted after the conclusion of the 2025 Masters Tournament, facing an unburdened Rory McIlroy will be scary. Back in the mid-2010s, the Irishman was one of the most outstanding golfers on the PGA Tour. He was only 22 when he won the 2011 U.S. Open. Tiger Woods also mentored McIlroy back then, which helped him improve his game. Today, apart from playing some of the best golf of his career, the 2025 Masters champion also has a ton of experience by his side.
If and when he stops dwelling on the Grand Slam glory, McIlroy will have many other goals lined up for him. He needs three more major wins to become the European with the most majors in a career. Currently, Harry Vardon holds that position with 7 wins to his name, followed by Sir Nick Faldo at 6. Rors can also overcome Gary Player’s record of 9 majors to become the non-American golfer with the highest number of major wins.
Interestingly, McIlroy is in a prime position to achieve one of those feats this year alone. The PGA Championship is being played on his favorite course, Quail Hollow. He has been incredibly consistent in the U.S. Open, finishing as a runner-up for the last couple of seasons. And as far as the Open Championship goes, it will be played in his home country in Northern Ireland. The odds are certainly in favor of Rory McIlroy becoming the first Season Grand Slam champion. The only question is, will he have his foot on the accelerator for all three majors? If
