Fans Divided Over Whether Rory McIlroy Will Ever Complete Career Grand Slam
A Golf Monthly poll has revealed fans are unsure of McIlroy's chances of winning a career Grand Slam after his early Masters exit


Rory McIlroy missed the cut at The Masters to guarantee his quest for a career Grand Slam will go on for at least another year. According to a Golf Monthly poll, fans are now divided over whether will it happen at all.
The Twitter poll asked: “Will Rory McIlroy ever win a career Grand Slam?” After over 1,000 votes, only 42.1% had answered “yes,” with 57.9% thinking the challenge was beyond him. There is still time to vote in the poll and have your say...
Vote Here:
Will Rory McIlroy ever complete the career grand slam?April 12, 2023
After winning the US Open in 2011, McIlroy went on to claim two victories in the PGA Championship and one in the Open Championship by 2014. Since then, it has looked like a matter of if, not when he would add The Masters to his list of Major wins.
After McIlroy rallied superbly in the final round of the 2022 Masters, there were high hopes that he’d finally claim his first Augusta National victory in 2023. After all, that runner-up finish behind Scottie Scheffler was the closest he had come to wearing the Green Jacket among seven top-10 finishes in his 14 Masters appearances up to that point.
Unfortunately, for McIlroy, his 15th appearance didn’t go anything like as well as the 33-year-old, or many others, had anticipated. There were encouraging signs in the build-up to the tournament, with reports that he had driven beautifully during a visit to Augusta National for practice rounds after an equipment change where he used a shorter drive shaft.
Then there was the fact that, even though he had endured a couple of indifferent results since the turn of the year, the World No.3’s form seemed strong enough to launch a serious challenge, particularly after his tie for second in the Arnold Palmer Invitational and a third-place finish in the WGC-Match Play the month before the tournament.
Even during his first round, there wasn’t any dire need to reassess expectations. Yes, he eventually completed a somewhat underwhelming even-par 72, but his in-play interview had been upbeat enough to suggest this was just another slow start for McIlroy, and he would only climb the leaderboard from there. Those expectations proved as wide of the mark as some of McIlroy’s play in the second round after his five-over 77 saw him out of the tournament before Moving Day.
Get the Golf Monthly Newsletter
Subscribe to the Golf Monthly newsletter to stay up to date with all the latest tour news, equipment news, reviews, head-to-heads and buyer’s guides from our team of experienced experts.
Rory McIlroy missed the cut at the 2023 Masters
Many have observed that Augusta National suits McIlroy’s game perfectly, and those close calls certainly lend credence to the notion that his struggles to win there are more psychological than because of an inability to master the course.
Before the tournament, five-time Masters winner Tiger Woods was also adamant it’s only a matter of time before McIlroy gets over the line. He said: “He’s been there, last year he made a great run, put himself there. But I think it’s just a matter of time, whether it’s this year or next or whenever it comes, he will get it done and have a career Grand Slam. It’s just what year it will be, it will definitely happen.”
For McIlroy’s sake, it is to be hoped Woods is right. As the years go by, McIlroy remains one of the best players around and has been almost ever-present in the world’s top 10 for over 13 years.
The wins keep coming, too, most recently in the Dubai Desert Classic at the start of 2023. There’s nothing to suggest there won’t be plenty more, either.
However, without the one victory he surely craves above all others, as McIlroy grows older, the percentage of people likely to opt for “no” to the question of whether he will ever win a career Grand Slam is only likely to increase.

Mike has over 25 years of experience in journalism, including writing on a range of sports throughout that time, such as golf, football and cricket. Now a freelance staff writer for Golf Monthly, he is dedicated to covering the game's most newsworthy stories.
He has written hundreds of articles on the game, from features offering insights into how members of the public can play some of the world's most revered courses, to breaking news stories affecting everything from the PGA Tour and LIV Golf to developmental Tours and the amateur game.
Mike grew up in East Yorkshire and began his career in journalism in 1997. He then moved to London in 2003 as his career flourished, and nowadays resides in New Brunswick, Canada, where he and his wife raise their young family less than a mile from his local course.
Kevin Cook’s acclaimed 2007 biography, Tommy’s Honour, about golf’s founding father and son, remains one of his all-time favourite sports books.
-
Nelly Korda Reveals Menu For Chevron Champions Dinner
The 2024 winner hosts the Champions Dinner before the defense of her title, and the menu hints at her Czech heritage
By Mike Hall
-
The Impressive List Of Course Records Justin Thomas Holds.... Including TPC Sawgrass, Medinah And Harbour Town
Justin Thomas is having a hugely successful PGA Tour career - and he has set several course records along the way
By Mike Hall
-
Rory McIlroy Career Grand Slam Celebrated With Royal Mail Postmark
Rory McIlroy's Masters win, which made him the sixth player to complete the career Grand Slam, was celebrated with a special postmark by the Royal Mail
By Mike Hall
-
9 Things Rory McIlroy Still Has Left To Achieve In His Career
After becoming one of just six players ever to complete the career Grand Slam, what else could Rory McIlroy realistically achieve before retirement?
By Jonny Leighfield
-
Rory McIlroy Invited To Old Trafford By Manchester United Boss Ruben Amorim After Masters Victory
Following on from his Masters victory, McIlroy has received an invitation from Manchester United manager, Ruben Amorim, to show off his Green Jacket at Old Trafford
By Matt Cradock
-
Will Rangefinders Significantly Help The PGA Tour's Slow Play Issue? Scottie Scheffler Says No, But He Knows What Will...
Rangefinders will be allowed in a PGA Tour event for the first time at this week's RBC Heritage, but Scheffler isn't convinced they will speed up play that much
By Jonny Leighfield
-
'His Game Is Futureproof' - Padraig Harrington Predicts Talk Of Rory McIlroy Winning '10 To 15 Majors'
The three-time Major winner had nothing but praise for his fellow Ryder Cup player, with Harrington envisaging that McIlroy could carry on at the highest level for a good few years
By Matt Cradock
-
Rory McIlroy's Sports Psychologist Explains Why He 'Didn't Talk' To Bryson DeChambeau In Masters Final Round
DeChambeau raised eyebrows at Augusta National when claiming that McIlroy wouldn't engage in conversation during the final round of The Masters
By Jonny Leighfield
-
'He Won't Stop Striving For Improvement' - Sports Psychologist Believes Rory McIlroy Has The 'Mindset, Focus And Drive' To Carry On Excellent Start To 2025 Season
We spoke to experienced Sports Psychologist, Gareth Shaw, about McIlroy's incredible Masters win and how the five-time Major can push on even further in 2025
By Matt Cradock
-
Rory McIlroy's Masters Win More Popular Than Tiger Woods In 2019 As Incredible TV Ratings Released
McIlroy's role as golf's primary needle-mover continued on Sunday as the Northern Irishman's fifth Major attracted an awful lot of eyeballs in the USA...
By Jonny Leighfield