Rory McIlroy’s recent comments speak volumes(Image: Getty Images)

Rory McIlroy is a man unburdened. After countless setbacks and close calls at Augusta, the Northern Irishman finally triumphed at the Masters in 2025, completing the elusive career Grand Slam and silencing skeptics who doubted he’d ever earn the Green Jacket.

Freed from years of pressure, McIlroy now speaks like a man renewed – and his latest words should strike fear into his competitors on both the PGA and LIV circuits. In a recent interview with the Irish Times, McIlroy reflected on his recent stellar run — which includes wins at Pebble Beach, the Players Championship and Augusta — and offered a candid insight into his mindset.

“If I can produce the shots I needed to over the last few holes at Augusta, feeling as I was feeling, then I am pretty capable of doing anything in this game,” he said. It wasn’t a boast or a prediction — just a calm assertion of his belief in what’s possible.

This version of McIlroy marks a shift from his former self, who often spoke of chasing specific milestones, like matching Tiger Woods’ major haul or cementing his legacy. Now 35, he seems more focused on staying steady rather than chasing records.

“I don’t think I need to [set goals],” he explained. “What’s next is just, how do I keep playing this way? If I keep playing the way I am, anything is possible.”

That quiet confidence has no doubt emerged from the shadows of his hard-won Masters victory. McIlroy told the BBC earlier in April: “Getting the Masters, the career Grand Slam, the fifth major, getting all that out of the way…

“I think it will allow me to play with a lot more freedom. I really do think it’s going to free me up. It’s been a long time coming.”

McIlroy believes his Masters triumph has lifted a weight from his shoulders(Image: Getty Images)

His resurgence has prompted bold forecasts from those closest to him. Trevor Heaven, captain of his hometown Holywood Golf Club, claimed McIlroy has shed his “shackles” and could now “go on to win 10” majors.

“I think [McIlroy] has a free run over the next couple of years,” Heaven told CNN Sport. “He’s so talented that when he turns up to all the tournaments he’s the favorite.”

The Masters title was McIlroy’s fifth major – and his first since 2014 – putting him halfway to double figures, a rare milestone achieved by just three players.

Sports psychologist Bob Rotella believes this win could open the door to “quite a few more” victories, while fellow Northern Irishman Graeme McDowell suggested McIlroy might double his current total.

Dr Bob Rotella thinks McIlroy could start racking up major wins(Image: Andrew Redington/Getty Images)

“Some people can be just like ‘that’s it’ and maybe not do a lot more in their career,” the LIV star said. “Others people can kick on and the world is their oyster and he could go on to win four, five, six more majors from here.”

Three-time major winner Padraig Harrington went even further, suggesting McIlroy could eventually overtake both Woods (15) and Jack Nicklaus (18) in terms of majors. “The Masters was distinctly different to every other tournament for Rory. Now he’s over that,” the PGA legend told The Golf Channel.

“He asked in his press conference, ‘What are we going to talk about next year?’ Well, we’re going to talk about whether he can complete the yearly Grand Slam, we’re going to talk about whether he can beat Nick Faldo’s six majors, we’re going to talk about whether he can get to 10 majors.

“And guess what? We’re going to talk about whether he can get to 15 majors and then we’re going to talk about whether he can get to 18 majors,” the Irishman added.

Padraig Harrington thinks McIlroy could become the most successful golfer of all time(Image: Andrew Redington/Getty Images)

“The beauty for Rory is that his game is future-proofed. He’s not a guy who gets injured and he’s extremely powerful, so it doesn’t matter if all these kids coming out of college hit it for miles. That doesn’t matter to Rory. Nobody is going to have an advantage over him.”

Harrington believes McIlroy’s durability and power make him uniquely suited for longevity in the modern game. The optimism surrounding him is unmistakable.

At long last, he’s playing without the weight of unfinished business — and if his current form holds, those ambitious predictions may soon feel more like inevitabilities. For now, the golf world watches closely, fully aware: Rory McIlroy is capable of just about anything.