Winter 2025

To say that McIlroy was as calm as his stroll down the fairway at Pebble Beach in February when he tried to tee off at the Ryder Cup in September is a paradox. How else does one describe the chants of “[obscenity] you, Rory” by American loyalists in the gallery and his one- finger salute in response? McIlroy’s final gesture certainly completed a signature year—more than $31 million in win- nings worldwide, ranked third on the PGATour money list with $18.6 million and a green Masters jacket to wear home, and becoming the second player since Tiger Woods to top $100 million in career winnings. The question is, will McIlroy be on offense at Pebble Beach, what he called one of the “cathedrals of golf,” when he 108 C A R M E L M A G A Z I N E • W I N T E R 2 0 2 5 Photo: Wu Xiaoling/Xinhua/Alamy Live News McIlroy, after winning the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am Signature golf event is interviewed by Jim Nantz before receiving the Waterford Crystal trophy. Photo: Motofoto/Alamy Live News Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland celebrates after winning the 2025 Masters golf tournament at Augusta National Golf Club, completing the career Grand Slam of the U.S. Open, PGA Championship, British Open and Masters.