Can Rory Mcllroy’s Las Vegas win put him back on the trajectory to greatness? 

Sarah Parker
Authored by Sarah Parker
Posted: Monday, October 25, 2021 - 18:17

At one stage, Rory Mcllroy was spoken about in the same breath as Jack Nicklaus and Tiger Woods, given how many early major wins the Northern Irishman enjoyed in his career. There was even a sense that Mcllroy could better the achievements of those that had gone before him. Needless to say, this global hype propelled him into stardom at a young age. In other words, the new superstar had arrived and he was sponsored by Nike. 

Indeed, when Mcllroy won the 2014 Open at Royal Liverpool Golf Club at just 25, you felt that the charge was well and truly on now that he had claimed his fourth major. Only, here we are in 2021 and Mcllroy hasn’t won a major since and hasn't come close either. Yes, if you’re betting on golf and the majors in particular you will see Mcllroy at odds of 14/1 to win the Masters in 2022, which would put an end to this drought, but how likely is that?

As it turns out, it got slightly more plausible after the 32-year-old won the CJ Cup in Las Vegas. It was a milestone victory for Mcllroy as it was his 20th win on the PGA Tour which took him to tied 35th overall for most PGA Tour wins in history. A fine achievement indeed but one that had been a long time coming and if anything, was slightly behind time. Although the Northern Irishman has proved that winning on the PGA Tour is not his kryptonite but rather getting it done in majors is his Achilles heel. 

After all, Mcllroy won the Wells Fargo Championship in 2021 and has been adding up the wins on tour consistently but ultimately, players are judged on how many majors they win when it comes to deciding who is the greatest of all time. So, can the 32-year-old make up for lost time and get within Woods and Nicklaus’ tally over the next decade?

At best, it seems unlikely, and here's why. Let’s say that Mcllroy does indeed throw off the shackles and finds a second wind, he would have to win at least one major a year over the next ten years to take his tally to 14, which would leave him one behind Woods and four behind the Golden Bear. That’s quite an ask for a man that hasn’t won a major in seven years to all of a sudden pick up one every year. But let’s say that he does, here comes the part where McIlroy would have to defy time. 

Indeed, winning majors after 42 is almost unheard of in this day and age and only nine men aged 44 and above have been able to in history. It’s worth pointing out at this stage that as spectacular as Phil Mickelson's PGA Championship win at 50 was, it was certainly the exception and far from the rule. 

With this overwhelming evidence to the contrary, you would have to say that alas, Rory Mcllroy has missed the boat to greatness after a barren seven years in major championships. Indeed, there simply won’t be enough time to haul in Tiger Woods or Jack Nicklaus at this stage in his career.