Rory McIlroy’s Wild Season: You Won’t Believe How He’s Feeling About It Now!

ATLANTA, Ga. — Rory McIlroy strolled down the ninth hole at East Lake Golf Club on Wednesday, searching for the right words to encapsulate his PGA Tour season. Eventually, he gave up and let out a drawn-out, deflated sigh, like air escaping from a balloon.

 

It was scorching in Atlanta—94 degrees and rising, with the sun baking everything and the air barely moving. Despite the oppressive heat, McIlroy was in good spirits, enjoying a practice round with Shane Lowry, one of his closest friends on the Tour. The course was nearly empty with only a 30-player field, allowing them to move at their own pace and spend extra time on the greens. For those chasing the $25 million first-place prize, every shot matters.

 

The Tour Championship, however, serves as a reminder of the year’s highs and lows, and for McIlroy, the gap between expectation and reality has been significant. “I feel like I’ve played better golf than the results suggest,” he said. “I had a good chance to win another major, had some solid wins, but…”

 

He trailed off, his dissatisfaction clear. McIlroy’s success has set a high bar; each year now feels like a quest for major victories, even though this season saw him with three worldwide wins and several finishes outside the top 25.

 

This high standard isn’t typical for most golfers, nor should it be—few pros are truly satisfied. For instance, Lowry was thrilled just to qualify for the Tour Championship, joking about how long it took him to get there. But McIlroy’s situation is different. His immense talent, his four consecutive major wins, and the time elapsed since that fourth victory have all contributed to his current sense of frustration. He’s won everything else in the decade since but is still chasing more.

 

Despite his victories, including the Zurich Classic with Lowry and a notable win at Quail Hollow, McIlroy felt overshadowed by players like Scottie Scheffler and Xander Schauffele. “Seeing what Scheffler and Schauffele have done this year—Scheffler has six wins and Olympic gold, Schauffele has two majors and multiple top fives—I feel like a distant third,” McIlroy admitted.

 

His frustration has been visible, particularly in recent weeks. He struggled in Memphis and was notably agitated at the BMW Championship in Denver, where he even broke a club in frustration. The toll of McIlroy’s personal life playing out publicly this summer might also be contributing to his impatience. His biggest disappointment was letting the U.S. Open slip away in the final three holes at Pinehurst.

 

McIlroy isn’t alone in feeling the strain. Scheffler and Schauffele also admitted to battling exhaustion and frustration. Schauffele noted that his patience was wearing thin, a sentiment echoed by McIlroy.

 

McIlroy has also expressed disappointment in the slow progress of golf’s unification efforts. He was a key advocate for a revitalized Tour and now feels disillusioned by the lack of significant advancements. “I thought there would have been more progress, but it seems everyone is just getting tired of it,” he said. “It’s become a bit of a cloud over golf, albeit a niche one.”

 

PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan has stated that the Tour is progressing with its own plans, suggesting that a merger with LIV might not be essential. McIlroy, however, believes reunification could elevate the sport. “Look at the numbers Bryson and I brought in at Pinehurst,” he said. “That’s the kind of impact we need. The PGA Tour is working to create the best product, but we need compelling storylines and personalities t

o avoid flatness.”