Rory McIlroy has seen just about everything the game of golf can throw at him, but The Masters in 2026 is set to offer something new for the Northern Irishman.
He will be returning to Augusta National as a past champion, something he has waited years to experience. His win at the first major of 2025 came on one of the most dramatic days golf has seen in recent memory.
McIlroy edged out Justin Rose in a playoff, adding his name to Augusta’s history books and picking up another win that seemed long overdue.
But his victory also put him into an even rarer group.
What Rory McIlroy wants to do when he gets to Augusta National for The Masters this year
Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images for Payne’s Valley Cup
Few players in golf have carried the kind of weight McIlroy did every time The Masters rolled around. Since his Open Championship win in 2014, he had been just one tournament away from completing the Career Grand Slam.
Only five players before him had ever managed to win all four of the modern majors. Unfortunately, both Gene Sarazen and Ben Hogan had already passed away by then.
The other three – Jack Nicklaus, Gary Player, and Tiger Woods – were still around.
Speaking on Stick to Football this week, McIlroy shared how much it meant to him to finally get his hands on a green jacket and join that group.
“Even now you hear those names and you get imposter syndrome, like I’m not supposed to be on that list. It’s incredible.
“Six have done it, there’s four living. The one thing I want to do is I want to get the four of us that are living – Jack, Gary, Tiger, myself – and do a picture at Augusta next year with our green jackets on.”
How close the two career Grand Slam chasers are to finishing the set
It took nearly a quarter-century between Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy to get from the fifth to the sixth member of golf’s most exclusive club, but 2026 could see two more names added – albeit still a long shot.
Phil Mickelson has needed a US Open title since 2005, but as it stands, he won’t be in this year’s field. Meanwhile, Scottie Scheffler is only missing that same title now.
Scheffler looks more likely to join next, as he has shown no sign of slowing down.
On the other hand, Jordan Spieth has needed only a PGA Championship since 2017 and he has finished second and third there previously too so there’s every chance he does go one step further again if he finds form.
