Rory McIlroy on retirement: I won't be playing at 50.

Rory McIlroy on retirement

According to The Sun: Grand Slam champion Rory McIlroy has admitted that he is 'certainly' approaching the end of his outstanding career.

The 36-year-old golfer won at the 2025 Pebble Beach Pro-Am, Players Championship, Masters, and Irish Open.

Final Goals

Before the 2025 Ryder Cup, he aims to claim another victory at the BMW PGA Championship. At a press conference in Wentworth, near his new home, McIlroy confessed that he doesn’t see himself playing golf at 50.

When asked if he thinks his career is nearing its end, he confidently replied:

“Yes, absolutely, on the back end!”

McIlroy, who sparked controversy, missed several tournaments this season, noted that he will only play in the events that interest him.

He explained:

“I don’t want to be playing here at 50. I want to compete in major tournaments and enjoy it, but, you know, when I finish, then I’ll finish. Whenever that is. It’s definitely not now, but I’m already closer to that point than I was in 2007 when I turned professional.”

Inspired by Roger Federer

The Masters champion also admitted that he was inspired by tennis legend Roger Federer, who began playing in tournaments he had never attended during the final stages of his career.

McIlroy plans to compete in several new tournaments this year, including the inaugural DP World Tour India Championship.

He added:

“I had a conversation with Roger Federer... he said he wants to play where he’s never played in his career. I want to play in places I enjoy and compete in major tournaments and the Ryder Cup. That’s it. I’m not going to be guided by minimum criteria or anything like that... I will play where I want.”

Rory McIlroy's acknowledgment of his future retirement has sparked interest among athletes and golf fans. His desire to enjoy the game and choose tournaments at his discretion reflects a shift in attitude among many athletes towards their careers moving forward. He has already achieved tremendous success and now seeks to maximize enjoyment from every moment spent on the course.