It feels like ages since Rory McIlroy won a major championship, but he may be embarking on his best years on the golf course yet.
When examining the history of golf, its greatest player had some of his biggest triumphs later in his career. Jack Nicklaus won six majors, one third of all of his major championships, after turning 35.
McIlroy likely won’t be able to reach the Golden Bear’s status in the game, but he certainly has the same kind of talent to go on a late-career winning spree. The Northern Irishman captured a U.S. Open, two PGA Championships and an Open Championship within his first four years on the PGA Tour, and if he is able to capture the Masters that has eluded him, an enormous weight will be lifted off his shoulders going forward.
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Here’s a look at Rory McIlroy’s age and how much time he has left to win more major championships.
How old is Rory McIlroy?
Rory McIlroy is 35 years old. His birthday is on May, 4 1989. He is still considered to be in his golf prime, and there is still presumably a lot of time in his career for him to win major championships.
There are many examples of golfers claiming multiple majors after the age of 35. Irishman Padraig Harrington won back-to-back Open Championships (2007, 2008) at age 36, and Vijay Singh of Fiji won three majors after 35, clinching the 2000 Masters and the 1998 and 2004 PGA Championships.
Oldest golfers to win a major
Phil Mickelson is the only golfer to win a major championship over the age of 50. He accomplished the feat at the PGA Championship in 2021.
Nicklaus ranks as the fourth-oldest golfer to win a major, trailing only Mickelson, Julius Boros and Tom Morris Sr. Here is a list of the 10 oldest golfers to win a major.
| Golfer | Tournament | Age |
| Phil Mickelson | 2021 PGA Championship | 50 years, 11 months, 8 days |
| Julius Boros | 1968 PGA Championship | 48 years, 4 months, 18 days |
| Tom Morris Sr. | 1867 The Open Championship | 46 years, 3 months, 10 days |
| Jack Nicklaus | 1986 Masters Tournament | 46 years, 2 months, 23 days |
| Jerry Barber | 1961 PGA Championship | 45 years, 3 months, 6 days |
| Hale Irwin | 1990 U.S. Open Championship | 45 years, 14 days |
| Lee Trevino | 1984 PGA Championship | 44 years, 8 months, 18 days |
| Robert De Vincenzo | 1967 The Open Championship | 44 years, 3 months, 1 day |
| Harry Vardon | 1914 The Open Championship | 44 years, 1 month, 10 days |
| Raymond Floyd | 1986 U.S. Open Championship | 43 years, 9 months, 11 days |
Oldest Masters winners in history
Nicklaus is the oldest winner of the Masters, with Tiger Woods in second place all-time after his 2019 win. Golf legends Gary Player and Sam Snead are also on the list.
McIlroy is hoping to capture a green jacket well before the age of 40. Here are some of the oldest golfers to win the Masters.
| Golfer | Year | Age |
| Jack Nicklaus | 1986 | 46 years, 2 months, 23 days |
| Tiger Woods | 2019 | 43 years, 3 months, 15 days |
| Ben Crenshaw | 1995 | 43 years, 2 months, 30 days |
| Gary Player | 1978 | 42 years, 5 months, 9 days |
| Sam Snead | 1954 | 41 years, 10 months, 17 days |
| Mark O’Meara | 1998 | 41 years, 3 months |
| Ben Hogan | 1953 | 40 years, 7 months, 30 days |
