Rory McIlroy is rapidly ticking off major golfing milestones, having just claimed the green jacket for a second time after winning The Masters again.
He endured a lengthy drought to finally get over the line at Augusta National, which he did last year to complete the career grand slam.
McIlroy is one of only six golfers to have achieved that phenomenal feat, and has just become one of only four to defend his title at The Masters.
And given that the 36-year-old still has a long way to go before retirement, there is no telling just how many more milestones he can hit after his latest at Augusta.
There is, however, a very clear goal for McIlroy that he may just be targeting sooner rather than later in his already astonishing career.
Rory McIlroy should target US Open and The Open Championship wins
McIlroy has already matched many legends of the game, from Jack Nicklaus to Tiger Woods and many in between.
But he could now emulate only those two by winning each of the four major championships multiple times.
Only Nicklaus and Woods have achieved that feat, helping the duo to the top two spots in the all-time major wins list.
Nicklaus leads the way with 18 and is followed by Woods on 18, with Walter Hagen (11) the only other man to hit double figures.
But he didn’t win every major multiple times, which is something McIlroy can achieve with one more win at the US Open and one at The Open Championship.
And while he will be eager to do that this year, the achievement would be made all the more spectacular in 2027.
Shinnecock Hills hosts the 2026 US Open and Royal Birkdale hosts the 2026 Open, but those venues switch to the small matter of Pebble Beach and St Andrews respectively next year.
The former is a truly iconic course that McIlroy already has a great affinity with, while the latter needs no introduction as the home of golf.
Why 2027 could be a monumental year for Rory McIlroy
Masters champion McIlroy certainly won’t be looking that far into the future, with green jacket celebrations his only priority right now.
He’s not playing at this week’s RBC Heritage on the PGA Tour, having incidentally only made four appearances heading to Augusta, one of which he withdrew midway through.
Such a reduced schedule highlights his approach to golf at this stage of his career, with the Northern Irishman simply picking and choosing the events he wants to play and those he is happy to miss.
That won’t please everyone, but that will matter little to McIlroy, who is clearly prioritzing big events such as the majors and the Ryder Cup.
And given his potential to emulate Nicklaus and Woods, and the fact that the Ryder Cup returns next year, 2027 could be monumental for the 36-year-old.
While many future tournaments won’t be in his focus right now, the Ryder Cup certainly will given its location.
Taking place at Adare Manor in Ireland, McIlroy is certain to not only take part, but also completely steal the limelight.
The expected huge attention should motivate him and his European teammates to another win, along with the tournament being played so close to home for the six-time major winner.
Worryingly for his rivals, both at majors and the Ryder Cup, McIlroy hopes to be in his prime for another 10 years.
That strongly suggests more success is on the way, with US Open and Open glory in particular certain to truly cement his status among the all-time greats.
Read more:
The three biggest winners and losers from The Masters as Rory McIlroy defends his title
Golf fans absolutely love what Rory McIlroy’s mum did as she watched him win The Masters
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
