AT A CROSSROADS RORY

We examine McIlroy’s career and whether his recent victory has put him back on the path to legendary status

- KIT ALEXANDER

Rory McIlroy is an immensely talented golfer. At 32, he already possesses a CV that the vast majority of pros dream of compiling throughout an entire career. He’s achieved a huge amount in the game, but he stands at a crossroads. Granted, he just recorded an impressive victory in the Wells Fargo Championship – his first triumph for more than 18 months – but he hasn’t won a Major since the 2014 USPGA and he’s no longer a mainstay in the world’s top five. Was his Quail Hollow victory simply a great performance at a course he loves more than any other, or the start of a genuine resurgence? It’s hard to say at this point, but what he does next will determine whether he goes down in history as a great player or elevates his legacy to legendary status, alongside the likes of Nicklaus, Woods, Hagen, Hogan, Player, Watson and Palmer.

Hitting top spot

What McIlroy has already done in the game makes for a long list of very impressive achievements. He’s won four Majors, with 19 wins on the PGA Tour and 14 wins on the European Tour. He’s been World No.1 for a total of 106 weeks, which puts him fourth in the all-time list behind Woods, Greg Norman and Dustin Johnson. He’s won the FedExCup twice and the Race to Dubai three times. He’s played in five Ryder Cups, helping Europe win on four occasions. Quite simply, he’s been consistently the best and most successful male golfer other than Tiger Woods and perhaps Phil Mickelson in the last 15 years.