The DP World Tour announced this Tuesday in Dubai the creation of the Rory McIlroy Award, a new annual award that will bear the name of the first European to complete the Career Grand Slam and will recognise the circuit member who performs best in the four Majors of a single season.
The award will be launched from 2026 and will crown the player who accumulates the most points in the Race to Dubai in the Masters, PGA Championship, US Open and The Open.
The distinction pays tribute to the historic achievement by the Northern Irishman in April, when he triumphed in an exciting finish at the Masters in Augusta —playoff against Justin Rose— to complete the set of Majors alongside the 2011 US Open, the 2012 and 2014 PGA Championships and the 2014 British. McIlroy, 36 years old, received the news during the DP World Tour Championship, the tournament that concludes the 2025 season where he is pursuing his seventh Race to Dubai title.
Rory McIlroy: “Having something named after you and awarded to future generations is a huge honour. It means a lot because the DP World Tour is where I started my career. I’ve always loved playing here and, of course, representing Europe in the Ryder. I am incredibly proud to be the first European to achieve the Career Grand Slam. The Majors are the pinnacle of our sport and I hope my success inspires other members of the DP World Tour to pursue and achieve their dreams for many years. I am looking forward to seeing who will be the first winner in 2026 and being able to present the trophy will be another very special moment.”
Guy Kinnings, CEO of the DP World Tour: “While Rory will continue to achieve great things, as a circuit we wanted to commemorate his historic feat this year, becoming the first European with the Grand Slam. This new award will be a permanent legacy that we hope will inspire future generations of DP World Tour members to follow in his footsteps. Rory has already made an immense contribution to our Tour and global golf; he is an extraordinary ambassador, and we are delighted to present the Rory McIlroy Award in his honour.”
The Rory McIlroy Award joins the other major annual recognitions of the European Tour, all named after legends who left an indelible mark on golf:
– Seve Ballesteros Award: Player of the Year chosen by the players themselves.
– Harry Vardon Trophy: winner of the Race to Dubai.
– Sir Henry Cotton Award: Rookie of the Year.
– John Jacobs Trophy: leader of the Order of Merit of the Legends Tour.
An important detail: McIlroy will not be able to win the trophy that bears his name. The Tour’s intention is for the award to honour those who replicate his excellence on the four major stages of world golf. That is, it will be the most points in the Race to Dubai accumulated in the Majors beyond the Northern Irishman.
