Rory McIlroy has one goal for 2025: match Scottie Scheffler and Xander Schauffele

When you reflect on Rory McIlroy's 2024 campaign , what first comes to mind?

It's certainly not his dominant victory at Quail Hollow in May. Or his early-season triumph at the Hero Dubai Desert Classic , which he won for a record fourth time. His win at the Zurich Classic with Shane Lowry sparked intrigue and celebration, but it's not what people will remember most.

It's the U.S. Open , plain and simple. Fans will recall the short putts he missed on the 16th and 18th holes at Pinehurst No. 2, which kept his now 10-year-long major championship drought intact.

His near miss at Royal County Down and his playoff loss to Billy Horschel at Wentworth also stand out. But those illustrious events do not compare to the allure of the majors, where McIlroy has come up short so many times in recent years. He posted top 10s in all four majors in 2022, which includes his heartbreaking finish at St. Andrews. He then finished one stroke back of Wyndham Clark at the Los Angeles Country Club in 2023, a tournament many thought would go his way. And then, this past year, at Pinehurst, McIlroy looked like he would hold off Bryson DeChambeau, but then he faltered down the stretch, losing to the American by one.

"Incredibly consistent again," McIlroy said when asked to assess his 2024 season.

"I've been really proud of that over the last few years. But then at the same time, you know, thinking about the ones that got a way. I could be sitting up here with a fifth major title, but I am not. So that stings and that's something that I have to come to terms with, but at the same time, I've got plenty more opportunities in the future."

He has an opportunity this week in Dubai, where he looks all but assured to win a sixth Race to Dubai title. It's an impressive accomplishment in and of itself, as he will, in all likelihood, tie Seve Ballesteros in having six career Order of Merits. Only Colin Montgomerie has won more with eight.

"Did I achieve every goal I set for myself this year? Probably not," McIlroy added.

"But I still consider it a successful season."

So, what would constitute a successful 2025?

For one, it would be for McIlroy to complete the career grand slam at Augusta National , something he has tried to accomplish since 2015. But a win at any major will do, which explains why McIlroy alluded to Scottie Scheffler and Xander Schauffele on Wednesday.

"You've got two guys at the top of the World Rankings winning two majors," McIlroy said.

"You know, Scottie winning The Masters, The Players, and the Olympics. They certainly separated themselves from the pack this year. I'm obviously very aware of that, and it only makes me more motivated to try to emulate what they did this year."

When asked how to grade his season overall, McIlroy gave himself a passing grade. He then awarded himself an eight out of a presumable 10, on par with a 'C' in most American schools. It would be an 'A' had he won the U.S. Open.

Alas, it's in the past, and McIlroy can only look ahead to where he can shake the monkey off his back.

Maybe it's at the PGA Championship , which will return to Quail Hollow in Charlotte, the course McIlroy overpowered this past May. Or, perhaps, he puts those recent U.S. Open demons behind him at Oakmont, which last hosted golf's toughest test in 2016. McIlroy missed the cut that year, his first of three straight MCs in the U.S. Open, but he has posted six straight top 10s since. You have to figure that the best driver in the game will contend at a course like Oakmont.

And then, the major season concludes at Royal Portrush, a course near and dear to McIlroy's heart. A triumph in his home country would mean the world, and I'm not sure if the Emerald Isle could process a McIlroy victory on its home soil. It would also serve as a true redemption story in more ways than one. The last time Royal Portrush hosted The Open, in 2019, McIlroy missed the cut, primarily thanks to an opening tee shot that duck hooked left and out-of-bounds. He made a quadruple bogey and could not recover. But he did bounce back on Friday with a 6-under 65 to only miss the cut by one.

Nevertheless, McIlroy has put the lows of his 2024 season behind him. He is focusing on the positives, his three victories, and how he has an excellent opportunity to end this rollercoaster of a season with another trophy in Dubai. But he is also hungry for a big win in 2025 and has Scheffler and Schauffele within his sights.