Why Nick Faldo says it could be tough for Rory McIlroy to win another major

With 2025 entering its final month, it's a good time to look back at what was a memorable year in the golf world.

But the moment of the year no doubt happened at Augusta National in April, when Rory McIlroy dropped to his knees and collapsed, tears streaming down his face after he finally won the Masters to complete the career grand slam and win a major for the first time in 11 years.

The celebration is not likely to be forgotten for a long, long time. However, could it be the last major triumph for the world No. 2?

Sir Nick Faldo, who won six majors, including three green jackets, believes McIlroy's journey to winning more majors will be even tougher than his quest for the Masters.

“It is like climbing Everest, you don’t turn around and say ‘let’s go up again next month.’ There was so much emotion at Augusta, and you cannot reproduce the emotion to win a major like that again," Faldo told the Belfast Telegraph, "so I think it will be tough for Rory to win another one.

“He’s either going to be disappointed that he’s won 10 or he is going to be ecstatic that he’s got to five.”

For a golfer at the peak of his career – and coming off arguably his best season ever – it's hard to believe McIlroy won't win at least one more major. But even McIlroy has admitted he struggled in the months after the Masters, trying to energize himself and find motivation to win golf's biggest events.

Heading into the year, McIlroy said he had three main goals left in his career: win the Masters (check), win another away Ryder Cup (check) and win an Olympic gold medal (see you in 2028, Riviera). As the calendar flips to 2026, it would be interesting to see what McIlroy's new goals are.

Surely that includes many more major championships.

This article originally appeared on Golfweek: Nick Faldo says it will be tough for Rory McIlroy to win another major