After achieving the career grand slam after a decade-long struggle, Rory McIlroy revealed his retirement strategy. And the motivation came from the 14-time tennis grand slam winner, Pete Sampras. 

During his appearance on The Shotgun Start Podcast about a week ago, Rory McIlroy confessed, “Not that I’m gonna do this, but I always loved how Pete Sampras finished his career. I have so much respect for that.”

Sampras took some time after winning his fifth US Open and announced his retirement. Since then, he’s disappeared from active competition. This approach greatly inspired McIlroy.

“So, like if the time came when I was in my 40s and something like that happened, I would consider doing that. Because I want my last memory of professional golf to be a great one. That's just the way I'm wired.”

And it's not the first time McIlroy has mentioned this. Earlier in March, during a press conference at the TPC Sawgrass, McIlroy weighed in, "I’d like to walk away maybe a little before I should. I will not play Champions Tour golf. Look, I’ve said a lot of absolutes in my time that I’ve walked back, but I do not envision playing Champions Tour golf. Something went terribly wrong if I have to compete at golf at 50."

And there's a reason for Rory McIlroy wanting to step down eventually

McIlroy wants to open the gates for newer golfers when he eventually steps down.

"I'm very happy to move aside for the younger generation to come through. I can acknowledge how lucky golfers are to be able to do what they do for so long compared to other athletes, so whenever I feel like the time is right, I'll have no problem moving aside and letting the next generation do their thing."

Written by

Krushna Pattnaik

Edited by

Siddharth Shirwadkar