One of the most successful European players of the modern era, McIlroy has won four Major Championships, been crowned Race to Dubai champion five times (2012, 14, 15, 22 and 23), won three FedEx Cups (2016, 19 and 22), represented Europe seven times at the Ryder Cup and has spent more than 100 weeks at the top of the Official World Golf Ranking.
Born in Holywood, County Down, he was introduced to golf at a young age by his father Gerry. He reached the top of the World Amateur Golf Rankings at just 17, going on to become the then-youngest and quickest Affiliate Member to secure his card after finishing third at the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship – his second professional event.
The first of 17 DP World Tour titles to date came at the 2009 Dubai Desert Classic and success followed in the United States as he won his first PGA TOUR title at the Quail Hollow Championship in 2010, the same year he made his Ryder Cup debut at Celtic Manor.
Sent records tumbling as he won his maiden Major Championship at the 2011 U.S. Open. He finished eight strokes clear of Jason Day at Congressional, setting new Championship records for total shots and shots under par – also becoming the third golfer to shoot all four rounds under 70 at a U.S. Open.
Became World Number One for the first time after his victory at the 2012 Honda Classic on the PGA TOUR, following that with his second Major at the US PGA Championship. Victory at the season-ending DP World Tour Championship saw him win the Race to Dubai for the first time.
Joined Jack Nicklaus and Tiger Woods as one of three golfers since 1934 to win three Majors by the age of 25 as he went wire-to-wire at The Open at Hoylake in 2014. Won his first World Golf Championships title the Bridgestone Invitational and the following week won his fourth Major at the US PGA Championship, adding to his BMW PGA Championship victory earlier that season and finishing the year as Race to Dubai winner once again.
Defended his Race to Dubai title in 2015 after winning the DP World Tour Championship for a second time, and in 2016 won his first FedEx Cup on the PGA TOUR after emerging victorious in a play-off at the TOUR Championship. Secured his first victory on Irish soil in 2016 at the Irish Open at The K Club, with his foundation also hosting the tournament. Won his second FedEx Cup in 2019, becoming the second player to win the season-long title multiple times. Was elected Chairman of the PGA TOUR’s Player Advisory Council for the 2021 calendar year and reached the milestone of 20 victories on the PGA TOUR with his win at the CJ Cup at Summit. He returned to World Number One for the ninth time in his career after defending the CJ Cup, winning his 23rd PGA TOUR title two months after securing the FedEx Cup for a record third time.
Ended the 2022 DP World Tour season as European Number One, FedEx Cup champion, and World Number One, winning the DP World Tour’s season-long race for a fourth time, topping the rankings in both Europe and the United States in the same season for the first time.
Won his first Rolex Series title at the 2023 Hero Dubai Desert Classic, his 15th DP World Tour victory and third win at Emirates Golf Club. Secured his second Rolex Series title later that season as he won the Genesis Scottish Open by one stroke – his first victory on Scottish soil. Made his seventh Ryder Cup appearance at Marco Simone in 2023. It was his best performance to date as he returned a personal record four points from five matches and it was the fifth time he had been on a winning side at the Ryder Cup. Won the Harry Vardon Trophy for a fifth time after topping the 2023 Race to Dubai Rankings in Partnership with Rolex. It was the second time he had won the season-long standings back-to-back.
Claimed his third Rolex Series title at the start of the 2024 Race to Dubai with his successful defence of the Hero Dubai Desert Classic title, overturning a ten-stroke deficit over the weekend to win the tournament for a record fourth time.
This is his tenth appearance in the Alfred Dunhill Links.