Rory McIlroy is still at the peak of his career. Although he is far from the end, the four-time major champion insists he does not want to be a golfer chasing past glory.
Speaking to reporters Wednesday morning at TPC Sawgrass ahead of the Players Championship, McIlroy was asked about Tiger Woods’ latest injury. Woods announced Tuesday that he had torn his left Achilles tendon and underwent surgery, meaning he will miss the entire 2025 major season.
“It’s really unfortunate,” McIlroy said. “He [Tiger Woods] has had issues with injuries and fitness. Obviously, he’s been working his butt off for Augusta…”
As Woods approaches his 50th birthday, the question about the legend’s career becomes even more urgent: How much longer can he compete at the top level?
This has led to questions about McIlroy’s future in golf. It may seem like an odd question for a 35-year-old golfer who is ranked second in the world and has been consistent for years. But with 18 years of professional play under his belt, McIlroy insists that while he is still passionate, he doesn’t want to be someone who clings to the past as his time draws to a close.
“I wouldn’t have a problem with that. I’m happy to step aside and let the younger generation come through,” McIlroy said. “We golfers are a lot luckier than athletes in other sports to be able to compete at the top level for a long time. But when I feel like my time is right, I’ll step back and let the next generation come through.”
McIlroy also said he has two criteria for deciding when to retire: when he has achieved everything he wants to achieve and when he no longer feels he can compete at the top level. The last thing he wants is to be a golfer who “plays around” on the course, playing in the shadow of his past glory.
“I don’t want to drag it out and become a shadow of myself. I want to leave before it’s too late. Sure, there’s always that feeling of ‘I could have done one more’, but that’s okay. If you can accept that and be proactive about when to stop, I think that’s the best thing.”
If Woods returns next year, he will be eligible to play on the PGA Tour Champions, and Woods has expressed interest in playing on the over-50 tour. But for McIlroy, that prospect is not appealing at all.
“Never,” McIlroy said flatly. “I’ve said things in the past that I’ve thought about, but I really have no intention of playing on the Champions Tour. If I’m 50 and I’m still playing competitive golf, then something is seriously wrong.”
