It’s been 10 years now since Rory McIlroy claimed a major championship.
His victory in the 2014 PGA Championship was his fourth major overall, joining Jack Nicklaus and Tiger Woods as the only golfers to have that many before the age of 26. He’s won 16 times on the PGA Tour since and at No. 2 in the world he remains a force in the game, but that victory at Valhalla Golf Club in Louisville nearly a decade ago remains the last time he claimed one of the four major tournaments in men’s professional golf.
On a humid, hot August day during which a weather delay meant they would be running out of daylight at the finish, Phil Mickelson, Henrik Stenson and Rickie Fowler all had at least a share of the lead on the back nine. Indeed, McIlroy trailed by three at the turn but rallied with an eagle at No. 10 and a hard-fought par in the gloaming at the par-5 18th.
Despite 20 top-10s and 10 top-fives, the most of any players in the last decade, McIlroy is 0-for 35 in the majors since. No one was predicting him to see stuck at four majors the next time the PGA Championship rolled around to Valhalla but that’s the reality McIlroy has faced and perhaps a return to friendly grounds will make all the difference this week.
Take a look at some of the best photos from Rory McIlroy winning the 2014 PGA Championship.
2014 PGA Championship
Rory McIlroy poses with the Wanamaker Trophy after winning the 2014 PGA Championship golf tournament at…
Rory McIlroy poses with the Wanamaker Trophy after winning the 2014 PGA Championship golf tournament at Valhalla Golf Club. Mandatory Credit: Thomas J. Russo-USA TODAY Sports
2014 PGA Championship
Rory McIlroy celebrates with the Wanamaker trophy after his one-stroke victory in the 96th PGA Championship…
Rory McIlroy celebrates with the Wanamaker trophy after his one-stroke victory in the 96th PGA Championship at Valhalla Golf Club. (Photo: Andrew Redington/Getty Images)
2014 PGA Championship
Rory McIlroy celebrates with the Wanamaker trophy after his one-stroke victory in the 96th PGA Championship…
Rory McIlroy celebrates with the Wanamaker trophy after his one-stroke victory in the 96th PGA Championship at Valhalla Golf Club. (Photo: Andrew Redington/Getty Images)
2014 PGA Championship
Rory McIlroy with the PGA Championship’s Wanamaker Trophy after his 2014 win at Valhalla.
2014 PGA Championship
Rory McIlroy holds up the Wanamaker Trophy after winning the PGA Championship at Valhalla.
2014 PGA Championship
Rory McIlroy poses with the Wanamaker Trophy after winning the 2014 PGA Championship at Valhalla Golf…
Rory McIlroy poses with the Wanamaker Trophy after winning the 2014 PGA Championship at Valhalla Golf Club. (Photo: Thomas J. Russo-USA TODAY Sports)
2014 PGA Championship
Rory McIlroy’s winning clubs for the 2014 PGA Championship at Valhalla.
2014 PGA Championship
Rory McIlroy after winning the 2014 PGA Championship at Valhalla.
2014 PGA Championship
Rory McIlroy after winning the 2014 PGA Championship on Sunday at Valhalla.
2014 PGA Championship
Rory McIlroy after winning the 2014 PGA Championship on Sunday at Valhalla.
2014 PGA Championship
Rory McIlroy celebrates his one-stroke victory on the 18th green during the final round of the…
Rory McIlroy celebrates his one-stroke victory on the 18th green during the final round of the 96th PGA Championship at Valhalla Golf Club on August 10, 2014, in Louisville, Kentucky. (Photo: Andrew Redington/Getty Images)
2014 PGA Championship
Rory McIlroy walks to the ninth tee during the third round of the PGA Championship at…
Rory McIlroy walks to the ninth tee during the third round of the PGA Championship at Valhalla.
2014 PGA Championship
Rory McIlroy during Saturday’s third round of the 2014 PGA Championship at Valhalla.
2014 PGA Championship
Rory McIlroy lines up his putt on the first hole during the third round of the…
Rory McIlroy lines up his putt on the first hole during the third round of the PGA Championship at Valhalla.
2014 PGA Championship
Rory McIlroy during the 2014 PGA Championship at Valhalla.
2014 PGA Championship
Rory McIlroy hits out of a bunker on the 12th hole during his second round at…
Rory McIlroy hits out of a bunker on the 12th hole during his second round at the PGA Championship.
2014 PGA Championship
Rory McIlroy watches his tee shot on the 10th hole during the second round of the…
Rory McIlroy watches his tee shot on the 10th hole during the second round of the 2014 PGA Championship.
2014 PGA Championship
Rory McIlroy is among the top expert picks to win the PGA Championship at Valhalla a…
Rory McIlroy is among the top expert picks to win the PGA Championship at Valhalla a week after winning the WGC-Bridgestone (shown here).
2014 PGA Championship
Rory McIlroy during Thursday’s first round of the 2014 PGA Championship at Valhalla.
2014 PGA Championship
Rory McIlroy waves after a birdie on the fourth hole during the first round of the…
Rory McIlroy waves after a birdie on the fourth hole during the first round of the PGA Championship at Valhalla.
2014 PGA Championship
Rory McIlroy during Wednesday’s practice round of the 2014 PGA Championship at Valhalla.
Rory McIlroy during Wednesday’s practice round of the 2014 PGA Championship at Valhalla.
2014 PGA Championship
Rory McIlroy hits a bunker shot during a practice round Wednesday for the 2014 PGA Championship…
Rory McIlroy hits a bunker shot during a practice round Wednesday for the 2014 PGA Championship at Valhalla Golf Club in Louisville, Ky.
2014 PGA Championship
Rory McIlroy during a practice round Wednesday for the 2014 PGA Championship at Valhalla Golf Club…
Rory McIlroy during a practice round Wednesday for the 2014 PGA Championship at Valhalla Golf Club in Louisville, Ky.
2014 PGA Championship
Fans interact with Rory McIlroy on Tuesday at Valhalla before the 2014 PGA Championship.
2014 PGA Championship
Rory McIlroy speaks with juniors Tuesday at Valhalla before the 2014 PGA Championship.
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The PGA Championship at Valhalla provided a dramatic stage for Rory McIlroy’s second major title of…
The PGA Championship at Valhalla provided a dramatic stage for Rory McIlroy’s second major title of 2014.
2014 PGA Championship
Rory McIlroy during the final round of the 2014 PGA Championship at Valhalla Golf Club.
Rory McIlroy during the final round of the 2014 PGA Championship at Valhalla Golf Club.
