“Went from being very disappointed and dejected to trying to focus on the positives to then wanting to learn from the negatives and then getting to the point where you become enthusiastic and motivated to go again,” Rory McIlroy said in 2024, reflecting on his ability to bounce back from adversity, like his crushing defeat at the U.S. Open. After that loss, McIlroy took a few days to reset, finding solace in the hustle and bustle of Manhattan, showing just how burnt out he was with the whole thing. But now, Rory has redeemed himself at the 2025 Masters, yet the case stays the same, well, somewhat.
As we all know, McIlroy’s emotions had overflowed at Augusta as he fell to his knees, letting out a primal scream that echoed the 14 years of pent-up frustration he’d been carrying. “My battle today was with myself,” McIlroy said, his words barely containing the depth of his emotions. “It was a struggle, but I got it over the line.” The weight of his journey was palpable as he sank a 4-foot birdie putt at Augusta on the first hole of a sudden-death playoff with Justin Rose, securing his win at the 89th Masters, and as awesome as that sounds, one golfer is worried that McIlroy isn’t up for the challenges awaiting him.
Speaking on the latest episode of the Golf Channel on YouTube, fellow Irish golfer Padraig Harrington shared his thoughts on Rory McIlroy’s remarkable career. “He’s the number one player; the other players have come and gone and become the world number one,” Harrington said, acknowledging McIlroy’s consistency, especially this year. Before the Masters, McIlroy won two events this year, Pebble Beach and Players. Harrington believes McIlroy’s passion for golf will drive him to continue competing at a high level. “He wants it so much,” Harrington said. “If you watch him in the final 18 holes… that is how emotional and how much it meant to them.”
However, Harrington also touched on the potential risk of burnout. “The only thing they need to mind for the next ten years, anyway, playing golf, is that he doesn’t get burned out, you know, mentally, he is still going to want it,” Harrington noted that McIlroy’s love for golf and dedication to fitness will help him sustain his career. “He puts a lot of effort into the gym as a way of practicing.” It is true.
Rory perhaps has the most demanding gym routine, and he does it effortlessly. His workout begins with an intense warm-up of light jogging, lunges, and rotational squat jumps. He’s dedicated significant effort to his fitness regimen to stay at the peak of his game, realizing he needed to increase his strength to manage his swing and prevent hyperextension. He has also made notable changes to his diet, consuming 170 grams of protein per day while cutting out pork and eggs due to his gluten-free requirements and reducing his intake of chocolate and ice cream to occasional treats. Despite McIlroy’s recent comments about potentially scaling back his career, Harrington believes he’ll continue to play at a high level for years to come. “If you told him he has to keep playing for another 20 years, that’ll burn him out right now on the spot… but the reality is that 15 years will come quick.”
Golf – The 2020 Ryder Cup – Whistling Straits, Sheboygan, Wisconsin, U.S. – September 23, 2021 Team Europe captain Padraig Harrington stands on the 5th green during a practice round REUTERS/Mike Segar
Harrington’s worries for McIlroy can seem a little far-fetched, but that doesn’t mean they’re wrong, as the golf world has seen its fair share of golfers getting the success and getting burned out.
The former #1 was ‘burned out’ with the demands of the game
Jason Day’s story is a prime example. He reached the top of the game, but his dream struggled to match the reality. “I got burned out being No. 1,” Day admitted back in 2018. “It’s easy to get burned out in a position that you’re in the spotlight. It can be demanding at times. You’ve got to give time to people, and sometimes you don’t get a lot of time to yourself.”
Day’s experience at the top was surreal, with five wins in 2015, including his first major at the US PGA. He felt invincible, saying, “When you’re walking around—and there are so many golfers in this world and you’re better than all of them—that’s an awesome feeling.” However, the pressure of staying at the top, coupled with personal struggles, including his mother’s cancer diagnosis and his wife’s miscarriage, took a toll.
Day’s decline was steep, but he found new vigor with a win at the Wells Fargo title, climbing back to world No. 7. “Last year was a good kick in the butt not playing great and then seeing a lot of the other guys succeed,” he said. These comments came after his 12th PGA Tour win in 2018, marking a significant comeback for the Australian golfer.
So, after knowing Day’s story, do you think Harrington is right to be worried for McIlroy’s future? Let us know in the comment section below!
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