2025 was Rory McIlroy’s year.

McIlroy, of course, ended an 11-year major drought in the most remarkable fashion, claiming his first Masters title in a playoff and a career Grand Slam in the process.

In September, he helped spearhead a victory for Team Europe in a Ryder Cup on foreign soil, enduring the worst kinds of abuse in the process.

For Irish fans, however, McIlroy’s 2025 season is even sweeter because of the way he won the Irish Open at the K-Club. The utter bedlam when he sank the eagle putt on the 18th hole to force a playoff was a defining moment of the Irish sporting year.

This year’s Irish Open made it abundantly clear that McIlroy is a beloved Irish sportsman. This might not have been the case a decade ago, as McIlroy’s own relationship with the island of his birth was always a bit tricky. He lost a sector of Irish fandom when he said he felt more British than Irish growing up.

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But in representing Ireland at the Olympics, and doggedly pursuing his lofty goals – and constantly undermining himself in the process – McIlroy has won the support of so many Irish fans.

McIlroy and Ireland: “a little complicated at times.”

McIlroy was a guest on the Shotgun Start podcast this month, and provided an ever-insightful review of a season that will be impossible to top.

When the interview was being wrapped, the Co. Down golfer was asked is there were any other memories he’d take with him outside of the obvious ones from Augusta and Bethpage.

McIlroy then singled out that memorable Irish Open win.

His reasoning was pretty interesting. He acknowledged the emotional outpouring on the 18th green, but also admitted that his own relationship with Ireland was ‘complicated’ in the past, but the reception he received at the K-Club that week truly mattered to him.

Yeah, I would say, look, the one thing you’re probably not gonna touch on, because this is a PGA tour year interview is the Irish Open. For me, yeah it was probably like a high point for myself. You know, it wasn’t the first time going back to Ireland as Masters champion. But I think like I’m Northern Irish and you know, sometimes the relationship that I’ve had with the whole of the country has been a little complicated at times.

And I felt like that was just such an amazing, amazing reception. Like to hole that puttt on the last to get into the playoff. The noise,the scenes, a bit like what Augusta does as well.

I didn’t see a lot of people on their phones. People were really into what they were watching and you had sons and dads embracing each other.

Look in terms of my career and like, it’s, it’s not gonna be the most memorable for people. But I talk about at this point in my career, I’m just trying to, trying to create or be a part of these special moments. And I think Justin Rose talked about that you in the, the last year in review is, is press conference at Hilton Head. And I think once, once you, once you reach a certain point in your career, it’s about just be trying to create these special moments and those are the things that are gonna stay with you for the rest of your life.

And the Irish Open was one of those for me.

You can watch the whole podcast here:

McIlroy is always fascinating but this was one of the most interesting comments he made this year.