Rory McIlroy
A two-time Masters champion (2025, 2026) and the sixth player to achieve the career Grand Slam, Rory McIlroy shares his secrets for driving, irons play, and putting.
Rory McIlroy is one of the greatest players of his generation: six major championships, a career Grand Slam in 2025, two consecutive Masters titles (2025 and 2026), and 30 PGA Tour victories. Here is his biography, his list of achievements, and a summary of his video lessons.
Who is Rory McIlroy?
Rory McIlroy is a Northern Irish golfer who was born on May 4, 1989, in Holywood, Northern Ireland. He turned pro in September 2007 at age 18 and won his first major at the 2011 U.S. Open at age 22, finishing eight strokes ahead.
In April 2025, he won the Masters in a playoff against Justin Rose and became the sixth player in history to achieve the career Grand Slam—the first European to do so. A year later, he retained his green jacket: he became the fourth player to win two consecutive Masters, following Jack Nicklaus, Nick Faldo, and Tiger Woods. In November 2026, he was ranked No. 2 in the world.
He has been working on his swing since childhood with the same coach, Michael Bannon, and is known for having one of the most powerful and fluid driver swings on the tour.
Rory McIlroy's Career Highlights
| Tournament or Record | Result |
|---|---|
| Major Tournaments | 6 |
| Masters | 2: 2025, 2026 |
| PGA Championship | 2: 2012, 2014 |
| US Open | 1: 2011 |
| Open Championship | 1: 2014 |
| Career Grand Slam | Achieved at the 2025 Masters (6th player in history) |
| PGA Tour Victories | 30 |
| The Players Championship | 2: 2019, 2025 |
| FedEx Cup | 3: 2016, 2019, 2022 |
| Race to Dubai (European Tour) | 7 titles: 2012, 2014, 2015, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025 |
| Weeks as World No. 1 | More than 120 |
| Ryder Cup | 8 appearances, 6 wins in European competition (including 2025) |
Key Points of Rory McIlroy's Swing
Rory McIlroy has worked with Michael Bannon, his coach at Holywood Golf Club in Northern Ireland, since he was 8. In 2021 he also hired Pete Cowen. His swing is one of the most studied on tour.
- Grip and setup: A very strong left hand and an almost weak right hand, an athletic, fairly upright setup, weight in the middle of the feet and the spine tilted slightly away from the target. (National Club Golfer, 2024)
- Backswing: A wide takeaway with no sway. At the top his shoulders turn roughly twice as much as his hips, with a flat shoulder turn and lead-arm plane that put the club well behind him. (Golf Monthly, 2018)
- Pelvis: In 3D analysis his hips turn about 40° at the top of the backswing with almost no sway; in the downswing his pelvis moves about 5 inches toward the target before rotating. (Golf Monthly, 2022)
- Downswing: His hips keep moving toward the target until halfway down, then rotate hard; the trail shoulder drops under to shallow the club, which comes from the inside and hits up on the ball. (National Club Golfer, 2024)
- Ball flight and speed: A high, low-spin draw. In 2018 TaylorMade measured about 120 mph of clubhead speed and 180 mph of ball speed, with 2,100 to 2,300 rpm of spin. (Golf Monthly, 2018)
- Finish: He always finishes in balance, even at full speed. In 2022 Tiger Woods told his son to copy Rory's swing for that very reason. (Golf Monthly, 2022)
What Amateurs Can Copy from Rory McIlroy's Swing
- Move your hips toward the target before the backswing ends, and let the trail shoulder drop under in the downswing: the club comes from the inside, which helps slicers. See our lessons to fix a slice.
- Finish in balance: try to bring your trail knee as close as possible to your lead knee at the finish. See our finish lessons.
- Set up relaxed and tension-free, with a slightly strong lead hand. See our grip lessons.
Compare with other pros' swings.
Rory McIlroy's Swing
Rory McIlroy's driver
With his coach Michael Bannon, Rory McIlroy demonstrates the fundamentals he's been working on since childhood: a target Intermediate, alignment rails, ball position, grip, and takeaway width. The Basics of Rory McIlroy's Driver Swing with His Coach, Michael Bannon.
His favorite exercise: repeating the motion with his arms spread apart—right hand under the left—until reaching the release position, to keep his right elbow in front of his body. Rory McIlroy's Best Tip for the Driving Range. At the driving range with Tiger Woods, he also explains how a shorter shaft and a slightly closed clubface have helped him: Driver: Nelly Korda and Rory McIlroy's Settings with Tiger.
Rotation and the Right Side
Rory McIlroy doesn't focus on his hips: he keeps his elbow, hip, and knee straight at impact. Hip Rotation: Rory McIlroy's Right-Side Reference Point.
Rory McIlroy's irons, short game, and putting
Rory McIlroy's irons
With irons, he leans forward more than he does with a driver, positions the ball toward the center, covers the ball with his chest, and aims for the widest part of the green. How Rory McIlroy Hits His Irons and Chooses His Target. To work on his shot shapes, he doesn't rely on his hands: draw and fade are determined at address, through the alignment and orientation of the clubface. Rory McIlroy's draw and fade: It All Comes Down to Accuracy at Address.
Rory McIlroy's short game
On a tight lie, he maintains a wide, smooth swing, then chooses between an open wedge and a 54° club with a square face, depending on the available space on the green. Rory McIlroy's short chip and his long, rolling pitch. At the downhill bunker, he aligns his shoulders with the slope: Keep your shoulders facing the direction of the slope. Bunker shot with Rory McIlroy.
Rory McIlroy's Putting
His two key fundamentals: his right arm tucked in close to his body and his right shoulder lowered, focusing on a nearby spot and challenging himself to make six putts in a row during practice. Rory McIlroy's putting: right arm locked in place and six putts in a row.
Rory McIlroy's Best Lessons by Topic
- Driving (Driving, speed and distance): The Basics of the Driver with Michael Bannon, Rory McIlroy's Best Tip for the Driving Range, Driver: Nelly Korda and Rory McIlroy's Settings with Tiger, Rory McIlroy Helps Grant Horvat Increase His Driver Speed, Improve Your Driving with Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy.
- Irons and Shot Shapes (irons, draw or fade): How Rory McIlroy Hits His Irons and Chooses His Target, Rory McIlroy's draw and fade: It All Comes Down to Accuracy at Address, Long Irons: Tiger Woods' Clinic with Rory McIlroy and Scheffler.
- Swing and Rotation (Body Rotation, Swing and Swing Plane): Hip Rotation: The Right-Side Reference Point.
- A Short Game and a Bunker (wedge play, pitching, and chipping, Bunker shot): The short-sided chip and the rolled long pitch, Chips, rough, and bunkers: Scheffler and McIlroy's wedge clinic, Sloped bunker shot, Wedge play with Rory McIlroy.
- Putting (Putting): Rory McIlroy's putting: right arm locked in place and six putts in a row.
- Warm-up and Mental Preparation (warm-up, Psychology and Mental Game): Should we be concerned about a “bad warm-up”?.
- Just for fun: Rory McIlroy's Best Shots on the PGA Tour.
See also the fact sheets on Scottie Scheffler, Tiger Woods and Nelly Korda, his workshop partners in several of these lessons.
Frequently Asked Questions About Rory McIlroy
How old is Rory McIlroy?
Rory McIlroy was born on May 4, 1989, in Holywood, Northern Ireland; he is 37 years old.
How many major tournaments has Rory McIlroy won?
Six: the 2011 U.S. Open, the 2012 and 2014 PGA Championships, the 2014 Open Championship, and the 2025 and 2026 Masters.
Has Rory McIlroy achieved the career Grand Slam?
Yes, by winning the 2025 Masters in a playoff against Justin Rose. He is the sixth player in history and the first European to have won all four majors.
How many Masters has Rory McIlroy won?
Two, in 2025 and 2026. He is the fourth player to win the Masters two years in a row, following Jack Nicklaus, Nick Faldo, and Tiger Woods.
How many wins does Rory McIlroy have on the PGA Tour?
30 wins on the PGA Tour, including two Players Championships (2019, 2025) and three FedEx Cups (2016, 2019, 2022).
Who is Rory McIlroy's coach?
Michael Bannon, who has been coaching him since childhood. Their lesson on the basics of the driver is summarized on this page.
What is Rory McIlroy's swing like?
A strong lead-hand grip, a big shoulder turn, hips that move toward the target before rotating and a club that comes from the inside for a high draw. He always finishes in balance.
