Rory McIlroy has now achieved the career Grand Slam in golf, leaving Jordan Spieth as the next contender for this prestigious accomplishment. Last weekend at Augusta, McIlroy finally clinched the Masters title, completing his Grand Slam with a sudden death playoff victory over Justin Rose. McIlroy’s relief was palpable as he sank to his knees on the 18th green, moments after his winning shot. Despite some struggles during the back nine, McIlroy maintained his composure, delivering a remarkable shot on the 15th and outperforming Rose in the playoff.
Now that McIlroy has secured his place in golf history, attention will shift to Spieth at the upcoming PGA Championship at Quail Hollow next month. In 2015, Spieth shocked the golf world by winning both the Masters and U.S. Open. He also finished second at the PGA Championship that year and won the Open Championship in 2017, securing three of the four major titles by age 23.
However, since then, Spieth has had near misses but hasn’t added another major to his tally. He placed second at the Open in 2021 and tied fourth at the Masters in 2023, but hasn’t been in contention on the final day since. Spieth, whose prowess has waned compared to his earlier career, will be the focal point of attention at Quail Hollow next month. Despite McIlroy completing the Grand Slam this year, all eyes are now on Spieth with discussions recalling his 2016 ambition for a coveted career achievement.
“It would be a complete dream come true if I were able to win a career Grand Slam,” Spieth mentioned in 2016 after his stellar year where he claimed victories at the Masters and U.S. Open. He later expressed his definition of success in response to a reporter’s inquiry in 2017: “A Grand Slam. “It means you’ve conquered all different types of golf. All the different governing bodies and it’s only been done by a few people. But we’re in a good position right now. But I’d be happy to grab a second green jacket before that quest starts.”
His consistent pursuit remained evident in 2018 when questioned about his yearly goals, Spieth acknowledged a singular focus: “Plans for the year? Just…similar schedule. Focus on the majors. You know, for me, I have one more tournament to win and one more major to win the Grand Slam. So the PGA is obviously a point of emphasis.”