Masters champion Rory McIlroy recalibrates career goals after completing famous career grand slam
Rory McIlroy reckoned he would have been ready to retire once a Green Jacket was slipped over his shoulders - but not any more!
The Holywood man achieved a lifetime goal when winning at Augusta National last April to become just the sixth player to complete a career grand slam.
He talked last weekend at the Dubai Invitational, his first event of 2026, about how he now feels like a “veteran” on the golf circuit.
But, speaking at this week’s Hero Dubai Desert Classic, the world No 2 revealed that he is now chasing numerous other goals in the game.
“Yeah, Olympic medal,” replied McIlroy to being asked to list two or three things he still wanted to achieve in his career. “Open at St Andrews. Yeah, maybe like a US Open at one of those old, traditional golf courses whether it's Shinnecock this year or Winged Foot or Pebble Beach, Merion.
“Like I keep saying, I would have told you two years ago, if I won the Masters, it would have been great and I could have retired or whatever.
“But, when you keep doing things, the goalposts keep moving, and you just keep finding new things that you want to do.
“I'm sure if I were to achieve those things, which, geez, I hope that I do, I'd probably give you more stuff in four years' time. I think when you're a competitive person, that's just the way you're wired and sort of the way we operate.”
McIlroy, a record four-time winner of the event, opened his latest appearance in the Hero Dubai Desert Classic, with a one-over-par 73 on the Majlis Course at Emirates Golf Club.
After taking a double-bogey 7 at the 18th - his ninth hole of the day - after seeing his third shot spin back into the water, McIlroy was eight shots off the lead as the pace was set by 2018 Open champion Francesco Molinari.
Fellow Holywood man Tom McKibbin, part of a big LIV Golf contingent competing in the DP World Tour’s Rolex Series event, opened with a 71 to sit just outside the top 20.
McIlroy is scheduled to begin his second round on Friday at 08:25 GMT.