Rory Slam a long shot but McGinley bullish on McIlroy’s career Major haul

Masters champion Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland celebrates after winning the Masters in a sudden death playoff on the No. 18 green at Augusta National Golf Club, Sunday, April 13, 2025.

Paul McGinley reckons Rory McIlroy has only a “very slim” chance of completing the calendar Grand Slam this season. 

Still, he believes the Holywood star’s got “unfinished business” in The Open at Royal Portrush as he continues his quest to become the most successful European of all time.

Speaking at the Barbados Legends hosted by Ian Woosnam, McGinley believes McIlroy is now perfectly poised to build on his Masters win and challenge for more Majors.

He’ll be the favourite for next week’s PGA Championship at Quail Hollow, where he’s won four times.

But when it comes to winning all four majors in the same calendar year, the former Ryder Cup skipper believes it may be a bridge too far, even for a player of McIlroy’s talent.

“Well, I mean, the odds of that happening are very slim,” McGinley said of the potential Rory Slam. “The competition at the top of the game is so good. So many guys are capable of winning Major Championships now.

“Rory has won four times around Quail Hollow, and I think he’s been second as well. So it’s a golf course that suits him, and he’s got some advantages around there, too. 

“He can drive it across corners and take advantage. He obviously likes it, and it sets up well for him. He went head-to-head with Xander (Schauffele) last year and beat him very impressively with brilliant golf.

“But of course, the expectation is huge – just when you get over one hurdle, the expectation is back on his shoulders now. 

“But I think it’ll be a little bit less given the fact that he’s won a Major Championship and, more importantly, completed the Grand Slam. 

“It may well open the door, but it’s not a given in any way. There’s a lot of competition at the top of the game; he’s going to have to play really well, and he needs a little bit of luck. 

“You do need a little bit of luck to get over the line. He hasn’t really had it in Majors over the last few years, and the ball bounced the wrong way at the wrong time for him. 

“But at the Masters, it did. I’m sure he would give up all those near misses for completing the Grand Slam and the Masters, with that monkey now off his back.”

Having matched Seve Ballesteros with five Major wins, McGinley reckons McIlroy will be trying to overhaul Nick Faldo’s record of six, the most in the modern era after Jersey’s Harry Vardon, who won six Opens and a US Open between 1896 and 1914.

“Well, I think passing Nick Faldo is the first thing,” McGinley said. “If he gets to seven Majors, that’s a phenomenal career, including a Grand Slam. 

“So he’s got two more to go to surpass Nick. It’s still a big ask. It’s not a given. These Majors are not easily won. 

“There’s so many guys capable of doing it now, so many guys not afraid of getting the job done when they get in contention. He’s going to have to play really well, but he does have two good chances this year.

“And he’s pretty good when he’s got unfinished business, which Portrush certainly is. 

“He felt he let everybody down the last time when Shane won around there in 2019, so he’ll be coming out with something to prove there. 

“He’ll have a little bit less weight on the shoulders, and I think he’ll enjoy it a bit more this time. 

“He’s also proved that he can play in windy conditions now, something he wasn’t able to do before. 

“He’s now shown that he can play on the back foot and when golf courses are set up difficult. 

“So he’s a more complete player than he’s ever been before. He’s more equipped to win more Majors than he’s ever been before. 

“And if the ambition stays strong, there’s no reason why he can’t surpass Nick and get to seven or maybe even more.”

McGinley believes McIlroy has now set himself apart from all the great players of the past 30 years, except Tiger Woods.

“I think he’s moved himself apart from the likes of Phil Mickelson and Ernie Els, Vijay Singh, you know, all of those great players in the last number of years, including maybe even Nick Faldo because he’s done a Grand Slam,” he said. 

“It’s huge. I’ve said that for a number of years. Only six players have done it – and in the last 59 years, only one player has done it. And that’s Tiger Woods. 

“I think it moves him into a different place. You’ve sat the four exams that Major Championships are and completed them. It’s a very, very rare feat, particularly in modern times with the competition you have. It’s something really special.”