Is Rory ready for major success in 2025?

HAS a dominant performance, at one of golf’s iconic venues, given Rory McIlroy the confidence to claim an elusive major championship victory in 2025?

McIlroy was spectacular at Pebble Beach and Spyglass Hill at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am, his power and precision there for all to see, and when combined with a cooperative putter, he proved too good for the competition at one of the PGA TOUR’s signature events.

It was the 35-year-old’s 27th PGA TOUR triumph, with his 21 under par total finishing two-shots clear of fellow Northern Irishman Shane Lowry.

The week began with a bang, McIlroy making a hole-in-one on the 15th hole enroute to a 66 at Spyglass Hill, before scores of 70-65 and 66 at Pebble, and despite much of the last three days being played in foul weather, it was the second-lowest score relative to par at the AT&T Pro-Am since 1983.

“Obviously, couldn’t wish for a better start for my PGA TOUR season,” McIlroy expressed. “I’ve been on a nice run of form since last fall. I’ve played some really good golf and continued that into this year.”

While with an eye to winning some of golf’s biggest events, ticking the box with a victory at Pebble Beach was particularly significant for McIlroy.

“There’s some venues in our game that just mean a little bit more than others and that’s probably to do with the history and the people that won on those courses and what those people have meant to the game of golf,” he said.

“I’ve had a few close calls at St. Andrews, which is another one of those important venues in our game. Augusta National being another one. So, to be able to get a win on one of those iconic venues is awesome.

“(But Pebble Beach was) a very different test this week than what you would typically expect at a U.S. Open, so got to take it with a little bit of a pinch of salt.”

***Can Rory McIlroy break a decade-long drought with a major championship victory in 2025?***

After this most recent win McIlroy was eagerly anticipating what lay ahead while conveying a belief he could perform in all conditions and on the most challenging of golf courses.

“I just think more that my game can travel, I can win on different venues, different tests, firm courses, soft courses, windy, calm, rain, long golf courses, short golf courses. Anything that I feel is thrown my way in the game I feel like I’m prepared to handle it,” McIlroy said.

And he gets his first chance to prove the faith he has in his ability is warranted when he tees it up in early April at the 2025 US Masters.

The last of McIlroy’s four major victories came at the US PGA Championship in 2014, representing a drought of more than a decade, and while he has threatened to break through, success at Augusta has alluded him, a second-placing in 2022 his best result.

McIlroy has played in the US Masters on 16 occasions, with seven top 10’s.

However, while his power game appears suited to Augusta, perhaps the US Open is where his next major title will come, with McIlroy incredibly recording top 10’s in each of his last 10 starts, including consecutive runners-up finishes.

He had his chances in 2024, only to stumble at the final hurdle with Bryson DeChambeau victorious, while he was beaten by one shot by Wyndam Clark at the LA Country Club the year prior.

Before the US Open, this year to be played at Oakmont Country Club in Pennsylvania, comes the PGA Championship, with Quail Hollow the host venue.

Of all four majors this year, a win at The Open Championship might just be the one McIlroy covets the most, with the tournament to be contested at Royal Portrush in Northern Ireland, no doubt a layout with which he is extremely familiar.

McIlroy has promised so much before, only to disappoint, and again has he given his followers false hope with his impressive performance at Pebble Beach in early February?

Starting at Augusta in April, the golfing world is about to find out if Rory is ready for major success in 2025.