NEW ORLEANS, La. – The air at TPC Louisiana hums with anticipation as Rory McIlroy, fresh off his Masters triumph, steps into the Zurich Classic of New Orleans press room on Wednesday, April 23, 2025. His voice, slightly hoarse from a lingering cold, carries a lightness that hasn’t been heard in years. Beside him, Shane Lowry, his teammate and friend, grins as McIlroy reflects on a transformative year.
“Yeah, if you had asked me a year ago if I’d be sitting here in this position and everything that’s happened,” McIlroy says, pausing, “I honestly could not be in a better place in my life professionally, personally, all of it.”
It’s a statement that resonates far beyond the team event he and Lowry are set to defend.
At 35, McIlroy is no longer the prodigy chasing greatness; he’s the Masters champion who completed the career Grand Slam, joining an elite club of six — Gene Sarazen, Ben Hogan, Gary Player, Jack Nicklaus, and Tiger Woods. The weight of an 11-year major drought, the heartbreak of Augusta’s near-misses, and the relentless scrutiny of his pursuit are gone. In their place is a golfer unburdened, radiating joy, and poised for a 2025 season that could redefine his legacy.
A Year of Triumph and Renewal
McIlroy’s 2025 has already been historic. His playoff victory over Justin Rose at Augusta National was more than a green jacket; it was the culmination of a 16-year journey at the Masters, marked by a crushing collapse in 2011 and years of close calls. The final round was quintessential McIlroy: brilliant yet flawed, with a bogey on the 18th forcing a playoff, only for him to deliver a pinpoint wedge to four feet and a birdie to seal the win.
“It’s like nine holes of Rory McIlroy’s career in a nutshell,” said Tommy Fleetwood.
The victory capped a season already sparkling with wins at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am and The Players Championship, bringing his PGA Tour total to 29. Off the course, McIlroy’s life has found harmony. After celebrating in London and Belfast with his wife, Erica, daughter, Poppy, and lifelong supporters, he returned to New Orleans not just as a champion but as a man at peace. His quip about missing shorter putts than Lowry’s clutch effort last year — a nod to his 2024 U.S. Open heartbreak — drew laughs, a sign of how far he’s come emotionally.
The Zurich Classic, the PGA Tour’s only team event, holds special meaning for McIlroy. Last year’s playoff win with Lowry, sealed with a raucous rendition of “Don’t Stop Believin’,” was a turning point.
“It injected a little bit of joy back into golf for me,” McIlroy said, reflecting on a 2024 season where personal and professional turbulence had dimmed his spark. That joy carried him to four worldwide wins in 2024, including the DP World Tour Championship, and set the stage for his 2025 heroics.
The Zurich Classic: A Celebration and a Springboard
As McIlroy and Lowry prepare to defend their title at TPC Louisiana, the atmosphere feels like a homecoming. The pair, bonded by over 20 years of friendship and Ryder Cup battles, are fan favorites and betting favorites at +350 odds. The team format — four-ball and alternate shot — suits their complementary styles: McIlroy’s booming drives and Lowry’s short-game wizardry. Their 2024 victory, rallying to force a playoff against Chad Ramey and Martin Trainer, proved their chemistry.
Despite a cold that left him bedridden earlier in the week, McIlroy’s enthusiasm is palpable.
“I need to put a little bit of practice in to make sure I don’t let this man down,” he said, glancing at Lowry.
Lowry, who finished runner-up to McIlroy at Pebble Beach this year, is equally upbeat.
“Winning just breeds confidence,” he said, noting how their 2024 Zurich win kickstarted his own strong season.
The Zurich Classic, with its $9.2 million purse and festive vibe, is a chance for McIlroy to revel in his Masters glow while staying sharp. The field includes top players like Collin Morikawa and Kurt Kitayama, but all eyes are on McIlroy, the world No. 2, whose Masters win has made him a global sensation. Phone calls with President Donald Trump and former President Barack Obama along with countless others across sports and culture have poured in, humbling him.
“The big thing for me is just how the whole journey resonated with people,” he said.
The 2025 Majors: A Chance for More History
With three majors remaining in 2025, McIlroy’s newfound freedom could be a game-changer. The PGA Championship next month at Quail Hollow is a dream setup. McIlroy has won four times at the Charlotte course, including the 2024 Wells Fargo Championship. He shot a course-record 61 en route to tournament record 21-under winning score in 2015.
The U.S. Open at Oakmont (June 12-15) and The Open at Royal Portrush (July 17-20) present tougher challenges but rich opportunities. McIlroy’s last U.S. Open appearance at Oakmont in 2016 was a missed cut, but he’s finished no worse than ninth in his last six U.S. Opens.
Portrush, where he holds the course record, is a homecoming; despite missing the cut in 2019, his teenage heroics there fuel optimism. Oddsmakers even float the possibility of a single-season Grand Slam, a feat never achieved in the modern professional era. Only the great Bobby Jones was able to win the so-called four majors of his era in 1930: U.S. and British Opens and the U.S. and British Amateurs.
The Long Game: Chasing Legends
Beyond 2025, McIlroy’s career trajectory is tantalizing. At 35, he’s not young but not old either. Nicklaus won his final six majors after turning 35, while Hogan won six of his nine majors after the age of 37. Jack himself predicted McIlroy could win “15 or 20 majors” if he stays motivated. With five majors, three FedEx Cups, and 29 PGA Tour wins, McIlroy is already a Hall of Famer. His Masters win has shifted the narrative from “what if” to “what’s next.”
The Ryder Cup at Bethpage Black (September 26-28) looms large. McIlroy, a seven-time participant with a 16-13-4 record, is a linchpin for Europe’s bid to win on U.S. soil. His Masters success has boosted European momentum, with seven PGA Tour wins by Europeans since February.
Yet, questions linger about motivation. McIlroy’s decision to play the Zurich Classic, skipping the RBC Heritage to recharge but returning quickly, suggests he’s hungry. His post-Masters quip— “What are we going to talk about next year?” — hints at a golfer eager to write new chapters.
A Man Transformed
As McIlroy walks the fairways of TPC Louisiana, the crowd’s roar feels different. He’s no longer golf’s “nearly man,” as he once called himself. The image of him collapsing in tears on Augusta’s 18th green, hugging Poppy, and embracing Lowry has become iconic. His message to his daughter — “Keep coming back, keep working hard, and you can do anything” — is now his mantra.
The Zurich Classic is a celebration, but it’s also a statement: McIlroy is back, not just to compete but to dominate. With three majors, a Ryder Cup, and a lifetime of possibilities ahead, he’s playing with a joy that could carry him to heights even he once doubted. As Lowry put it, “Who cares anymore?” For McIlroy, the answer is clear: he does, and golf is all the better for it.
