Rory McIlroy Biography

Fast Facts

• Was a member of Europe's winning Junior Ryder Cup team in 2004
• Left school at age 16 to concentrate on golf
• Played in his first European Tour event in 2006
• Was the European Amateur Champion in 2006
• Turned pro in September of 2007
• First pro win was the Dubai Desert Classic in 2009
• Got his first PGA win in May of 2010 at the Quail Hollow Championship, defeating Phil Mickelson by four shots, and shooting a course-record 62 in the final round
• Won the 2011 U
• S
• Open held at Congressional in Bethesda, Maryland, winning by eight strokes over Jason Day
• Won the 2012 PGA Championship by eight strokes, including a birdie on the final hole
• Won his third major, the 2014 British Open championship, at age 25, a feat only matched by Tiger Woods and Jack Nicklaus