Rory McIlroy Eying Career Grand Slam After Augusta Masters Victory

Greg Norman believes Rory McIlroy’s repeat victory at the 2026 Masters has created ideal momentum for another clean sweep of all four majors. Norman expects McIlroy to contend strongly across the PGA Championship, U.S. Open and The Open as the season moves on, and suggested the Masters performance showed a golfer in complete control.

McIlroy defended the Green Jacket at Augusta with a 12-under total, finishing one stroke ahead of world number one Scottie Scheffler. That result made McIlroy the first player since Tiger Woods in 2001 and 2002 to win consecutive Masters titles, and only the fourth golfer in history to do so at Augusta National.

The success at Augusta added another line to McIlroy’s career record. Twelve months earlier, McIlroy became the sixth golfer to complete the career Grand Slam, joining Woods, Jack Nicklaus, Gary Player, Ben Hogan and Gene Sarazen. That 2025 campaign also featured victories in the other three majors, giving McIlroy a full-season sweep.

Norman, a two-time Champion Golfer of the Year with Open wins in 1986 and 1993, now sees another calendar Grand Slam as realistic. Norman watched the final round closely and felt McIlroy handled the pressure with calm focus, especially after building a record halfway advantage through a standout second round.

Norman’s own assessment of McIlroy’s prospects was clear. "I said it to myself when I was watching the final round, Norman exclusively told Stats Perform when asked if the Northern Irishman could win all four majors once again. I said to myself he has got a big chance of winning the slam again this year."

McIlroy’s title defence at Augusta placed the 36-year-old alongside Woods, Nicklaus and Nick Faldo as the only players to win back-to-back Masters. Norman was asked to compare McIlroy with those legendary names but declined to separate them in any ranking, stressing the achievement rather than debating relative status.

"I think they're all equally uniquely special. Any time you defend any title, it's a great thing, but to defend a major championship title is even more impressive, Norman added. It's hard to rate him above the other three because they were equally as spectacular. He's joined an elite club, and it's good for him. He's worked on his game, and he's worked hard on the things in life that he needed to have stability in to allow him to do what he needs to do. All kudos to him I compliment him very highly for what he's done and how he's done it."

The remaining majors for 2026 will further test McIlroy’s Grand Slam push. The PGA Championship, where McIlroy already owns two titles, is scheduled for next month. The U.S. Open follows in June, with The Open then concluding the major season in July on links terrain traditionally linked with McIlroy’s upbringing.

The final round at Augusta also highlighted Scheffler’s resilience. After struggling across the opening two days, Scheffler produced a bogey-free closing 68 and created pressure on McIlroy from several groups ahead. That effort made Scheffler the first player on record, since 1942, to complete the last two Masters rounds without a single bogey.

Rory McIlroy Masters Grand Slam chase and Scheffler challenge

Scheffler’s tournament was effectively decided by a second-round 74 that dropped the world number one 12 shots behind McIlroy at halfway. The gap proved too large to completely erase, despite the flawless weekend scoring. Even so, Norman viewed the late push as another sign of Scheffler’s status among the game’s most reliable performers.

"It tells you the quality of the player that he truly is, Norman said of Scheffler's comeback. The quality players always find a way to stay around and they just make it work. Even when you are playing at 80% of your game. His short game and his putting wasn't great. His feel for distance wasn't great, he was driving the ball average early on. He was trying too hard it seemed like at certain times. But great players find a way to get it done to make sure that they are in with a shout at the end. When you look back over 72 holes and you think 'I probably let eight or 12 shots go out there', and he only lost by one, you walk away from that saying 'I'm fine with that'."

With McIlroy chasing a second straight Grand Slam and Scheffler showing strong form despite early setbacks, the 2026 major season is set up with clear storylines. Norman’s praise for both players underlines how narrow the margins were at Augusta and suggests the battles across the PGA Championship, U.S. Open and The Open could remain just as tight.