Rory McIlroy: Career Grand Slam, FedEx Cup record and 100 million in prize money

Rory Daniel McIlroy is one of the most influential golfers of the 21st century. The Northern Irishman has revolutionized the sport with his athletic style of play, his dominance of the world rankings and his commitment to the PGA Tour. A former world number one (over 100 weeks), McIlroy is a five-time major champion. Only the sixth player in golf history and the first European to complete the Career Grand Slam at the 2025 Masters, he is also the only player in history to have won the FedEx Cup three times.

1. Rory McIlroy profile: Facts & Figures

2. Beginnings and the dominant career of Rory McIlroy

Rory McIlroy's journey to the top of the world began in his hometown of Holywood, Northern Ireland. His career was made possible by great family sacrifice: his parents took on extra jobs (including night shifts and cleaning toilets) to give him the encouragement he needed. He showed his exceptional talent at a young age and made it to number 1 in the World Amateur Golf Ranking in 2007 at the age of 17.

McIlroy turned professional in September 2007. His first professional victory came in 2009 at the Dubai Desert Classic at the age of 19. His first success on the PGA Tour followed just one year later at the Quail Hollow Championship, making him the first player since Tiger Woods to win a PGA Tour event before his 21st birthday.

3. Major victories and records: Rory McIlroy's greatest successes

McIlroy's career is characterized by milestones. With five major titles, he is one of the absolute world elite. His greatest triumph came in 2025, when he completed the Career Grand Slam by winning the Masters Tournament. He is only the sixth player of the modern era (after legends such as Woods and Nicklaus) and the first European to achieve this.

• Three FedEx Cup titles: McIlroy holds the historic record of being the only player to have won the FedEx Cup three times (2016, 2019, 2022), surpassing Tiger Woods (2 wins).
• Historic consistency: In 2022, he managed to finish in the top 10 at all four major tournaments in one year for the first time in his career.
• DP World Tour: With six overall wins in the Race to Dubai / Harry Vardon Trophy (including 2024), he is one of the most successful players in the history of the European Tour.

3.1st Rory McIlroy's Major record at a glance

4. Prize money and fortune: how rich is Rory McIlroy?

Rory McIlroy is one of the richest sportsmen in the world. His income mainly comes from prize money and lucrative sponsorship contracts.

• PGA Tour prize money (as of November 2025): 107,981,766 dollars. McIlroy was the second player after Tiger Woods to pass the 100 million dollar mark in official PGA Tour prize money in 2025 - a milestone that underlines his financial dominance.‍
• European Tour prize money (as of November 2025): €66,280,737.‍
• Estimated net worth: McIlroy's total net worth is estimated at 250 to 300 million US dollars.

Note on counting method: The prize money figures quoted on the PGA Tour and the DP World Tour include co-sanctioned tournaments (such as the Majors), which is why the figures on both tours must be considered separately.

5. Rory McIlroy in the team competitions: The Ryder Cup record

As a European star, McIlroy is a mainstay in the Ryder Cup. Since 2010, he has represented Europe in eight appearances and brought home victory five times (including in Rome in 2023). In the 2023 Ryder Cup, he was the European team's top points scorer with a record of 4-1-0. He is regarded as the future captain of the European team, but first wants to celebrate further success as a player.

• Overall record: 19 wins, 14 defeats, 5 draws (from 38 matches).
• History: He was part of the legendary "Miracle at Medinah" in 2012 and almost missed his Tee Time because he overslept. Thanks to a police escort, McIlroy arrived just in time and won his singles match. At the 2025 Ryder Cup in New York, the Northern Irishman suffered severe insults and abuse. His wife Erica was even pelted with a beer cup.

6. Playing style, equipment and technique

Despite his comparatively short height of 1.75 m, McIlroy is considered one of the longest and most athletic players on Tour. Early in his career, he had to change his swing due to chronic back problems (degenerative disc disease) and has since focused on core and leg strength to build speed off the ground.

• Equipment: McIlroy has a long-term clothing contract with Nike. Following Nike's withdrawal from the club business, he signed a $100 million contract with TaylorMade for woods and irons.
• Putting: He has been coached by putting legend Brad Faxon since 2018 to further perfect this part of his game.

7. Rory McIlroy in private: scandals, family and commitment

McIlroy's private life is often in the public eye. He was engaged to tennis player Caroline Wozniacki before marrying Erica Stoll in 2017, with whom he has a daughter. McIlroy filed for divorce in 2024, but withdrew the application just weeks later, stating that they had resolved their differences and were looking forward to a future together.

Role in the golf war: In the dispute over LIV Golf, McIlroy established himself as an outspoken leader and defender of the PGA Tour and a fierce critic of the renegades. He played a key role in the Tour's strategic direction.

8. Conclusion and outlook: The legacy of Rory McIlroy

Rory McIlroy has proven that he is capable of reinventing his career and bouncing back after setbacks and injuries. His Career Grand Slam 2025 cemented his place among golf's all-time legends.

8.1st TGL Foundation: McIlroy's visionary role in the future of golf

His influence extends beyond the course: together with Tiger Woods, he founded TMRW Sports and initiated the TGL, an innovative indoor golf league that combines technology and team competition. With this move, McIlroy is establishing himself not only as a player, but also as a visionary and entrepreneur at the forefront of the future development of professional golf.