Rory McIlroy claimed his sixth major with the successful defence of his Masters title.
As one of only four men to win back-to-back at Augusta he continues to add accolades to his CV after becoming only the sixth golfer to complete the career Grand Slam at the course a year ago.
Here we look at what lies ahead for the world number two.
When will McIlroy play next?
After last year's win he took a fortnight off before teeing it up at the Zurich Classic of New Orleans team event to defend the title he won alongside good friend Shane Lowry. However, Lowry has a new partner in Brooks Koepka and as McIlroy has only played twice at the event in his career it is unlikely he will return this year. A more realistic prospect is the following week’s Cadillac Championship at Doral, a resort in his home state of Florida and owned by United States president and golf fan Donald Trump who called McIlroy a "legend" after his second Masters win. He seems certain to play the following week at the Truist Championship at Quail Hollow in Charlotte, where he has won four times.
Can he do the single-year grand slam?
Not even Tiger Woods achieved the feat of winning all four majors in the same calendar year, although he did lay claim to the 'Tiger Slam’ after holding all four titles at the same time following his 2001 Masters win. Bobby Jones is the only man to hold all four in 1930 but that was the Open Championship, US Open, US Amateur and the Amateur Championship – the "Impregnable Quadrilateral". Golf has changed significantly since then and the depth of competition makes it highly unlikely but as the winner of the Masters McIlroy is the only man able to take a run at it in 2026.
Will he recapture world number one status?
Scottie Scheffler has been the undisputed number one since March 2022, just before he won the first of his four majors. McIlroy moved back to number two early in 2025 but his American rival has still maintained a healthy advantage. Even his win at Augusta only closed the gap by 0.9 ranking points (Scheffler is 16.2, McIlroy is 10.1) as Scheffler finished second. With Cameron Young, joint third at Augusta, a distant third in the rankings the Scheffler-McIlroy rivalry is set to continue and with the American’s game showing some rare signs of vulnerability McIlroy could make inroads. However, it would still require some significant major performances to reel him in by the end of the year.
What are his chances for the next major?
The US PGA takes place in a month’s time at Aronimink in Pennsylvania, a course which has not hosted a major since 1962. It staged the AT&T National in 2010 and 2011 but McIlroy played in neither. Virtually none of the modern-day players featured, although Justin Rose won the 2010 edition, so it will be something of a level playing field and McIlroy will not have the advantage he had at Augusta of being able to play numerous practice rounds in the build-up.
Where can he get to on the all-time list?
McIlroy’s six majors put him alongside Nick Faldo, Phil Mickelson and Lee Trevino. Next in his sights on seven are Arnold Palmer, Sam Snead, Gene Sarazen, Bobby Jones and Harry Vardon. Tom Watson (eight), Ben Hogan and Gary Player (both nine) are slightly further ahead but Jack Nicklaus’ 18 and Woods’ 15 appear out of reach. McIlroy could, arguably, target Walter Hagen’s 11 if he can maintain his form in his second era – having waited a decade to add his fifth major last year – but only one golfer in the past 57 years has won at least five majors after their 35th birthday and that was Nicklaus. Only three golfers have ever done it, the others being Snead and Hogan. McIlroy will be 36 by the time the US PGA comes around so the clock is ticking.
