It’s been 10 years now since Rory McIlroy claimed a major championship.
His victory in the 2014 PGA Championship was his fourth major overall, joining Jack Nicklaus and Tiger Woods as the only golfers to have that many before the age of 26. He’s won 16 times on the PGA Tour since and at No. 2 in the world he remains a force in the game, but that victory at Valhalla Golf Club in Louisville nearly a decade ago remains the last time he claimed one of the four major tournaments in men’s professional golf.
On a humid, hot August day during which a weather delay meant they would be running out of daylight at the finish, Phil Mickelson, Henrik Stenson and Rickie Fowler all had at least a share of the lead on the back nine. Indeed, McIlroy trailed by three at the turn but rallied with an eagle at No. 10 and a hard-fought par in the gloaming at the par-5 18th.
Despite 20 top-10s and 10 top-fives, the most of any players in the last decade, McIlroy is 0-for 35 in the majors since. No one was predicting him to see stuck at four majors the next time the PGA Championship rolled around to Valhalla but that’s the reality McIlroy has faced and perhaps a return to friendly grounds will make all the difference this week.
Take a look at some of the best photos from Rory McIlroy winning the 2014 PGA Championship.