The Year of Rory McIlroy

Scottie Scheffler, by virtually every measure, is the best golfer on the planet. In an era where it is harder than ever to separate from your peers, Scheffler won six PGA Tour events this season (two of them major championships) and led the PGA Tour in 28 different statistical categories. His scoring average in 2025 (68.13) was better than any golfer in history besides Tiger Woods in 2000. He is just 29 years old and entering the prime of his career. The future feels like it belongs to him. We are still riding the wave of one of the all-time greats, and it likely hasn’t even crested yet. 

Why, then, does it feel like Rory McIlroy was still the story of 2025? 

It’s an interesting debate, and one we’ve been having throughout the fall. In a year where Scheffler appears to have solidified his status as the best golfer of his era, McIlroy reaffirmed that he is the straw that stirs the drink in professional golf. You can love him, you can loathe him, you can doubt him, you can feel conflicted about him, but you cannot turn away when he is over the ball or behind the microphone. You can argue, without much pushback, that Scheffler’s year was better than McIlroy’s. But it would be hard to argue that Scheffler’s year was as interesting as McIlroy’s. 

In 2025, Rory McIlroy experienced just about everything — a win at Pebble Beach, a place he called one of golf’s cathedrals; a dramatic Monday playoff win at the Players Championship; a cathartic win at the Masters that was a decade in the making and earned him the distinction of becoming just the sixth golfer to claim the career Grand Slam; a running feud with the media that was borne out of his driver being deemed non-conforming during testing at the PGA Championship; an emotional homecoming to Northern Ireland for the Open Championship; an emotionally-draining, at-times-controversial performance as he helped Europe win a Ryder Cup on American soil; a dramatic victory in the Irish Open; a seventh Race to Dubai title, putting him just one behind Colin Montgomerie's record of eight. 

{{inline-article}}

Along the way, McIlroy reminded us of why he is the sport’s most compelling figure. He was, at various points: funny, stubborn, vulnerable, frustrating, thoughtful, smart, annoying, contradictory, prophetic, smug, reflective, inspirational, and honest. No one held our attention quite like he did, and judging by the ratings, that was true throughout the world of golf. 

The future likely belongs to Scheffler. (Bryson DeChambeau or Jon Rahm might disagree, but they’ll have their chance to prove it in 2026). But 2025 still belonged to McIlroy. We wanted to take a final look back at his year and reflect on the most memorable moments before we fully turn the page to 2026. 

Year of Rory Content

Australian Sandbelt in the Spotlight: Joseph LaManga examines Rory's decision to play in the Australian Open, and how it offers hope for the future of golf Down Under.

‘This Is It’: Adam Woodard revisits Rory McIlroy’s career-defining shots on Saturday and Sunday at the 2025 Masters.

Favorite Moments from 2025: From Augusta National to Royal Portrush to comments made to reporters, McIlroy had a highlight-filled year.

Greater Importance of Rory's Least-Impactful Win: Brendan Porath explains how McIlroy's second Irish Open victory was a testament to his longevity and stature in the game.