Rory McIlroy Says Trusting This One Thing Changed His Career: "Made Bad Decisions When I've..."
GOLF AUSTRALIAN OPEN, Northern Ireland s Rory McIlroy tees off on the 3rd hole during round three of the Australian Open Golf tournament at the Royal Melbourne Golf Club in Melbourne, Saturday, December 6, 2025. NO ARCHIVING, EDITORIAL USE ONLY MELBOURNE VICTORIA AUSTRALIA PUBLICATIONxNOTxINxAUSxNZLxPNGxFIJxVANxSOLxTGA Copyright: xJAMESxROSSx 20251206159905791285
GOLF AUSTRALIAN OPEN, Northern Ireland s Rory McIlroy tees off on the 3rd hole during round three of the Australian Open Golf tournament at the Royal Melbourne Golf Club in Melbourne, Saturday, December 6, 2025. NO ARCHIVING, EDITORIAL USE ONLY MELBOURNE VICTORIA AUSTRALIA PUBLICATIONxNOTxINxAUSxNZLxPNGxFIJxVANxSOLxTGA Copyright: xJAMESxROSSx 20251206159905791285
Career Grand Slam winner Rory McIlroy has secured his place among golf’s leading players. Having spent many years competing at the top level, he has experienced both results and setbacks during his career.
Over time, those experiences have also included advice from people within the game about handling decisions and pressure.
Reflecting on one idea he has tried to apply in recent years, McIlroy spoke about trusting instinct during an appearance on The Fried Egg Golf Podcast on Friday.
“I would say this is sort of cliché, but go with your instinct. Sometimes I probably do that a little too much, a bit too much on gut feel, like on the golf course. My general disposition is probably a little more impulsive, so sometimes I have to rein myself back in,” he said.
September 27, 2025, Farmingdale, Ny, United States: FARMINGDALE, NY - SEPTEMBER 27: Rory McIlroy of Team Europe walks down the fairway on hole 1 during the Ryder Cup - Morning Foursomes Matches at Bethpage Black Golf Course on September 27, 2025 in Farmingdale, NY. Farmingdale United States - ZUMAt139 20250927_aaa_t139_028 Copyright: xAlxChang/IsixPhotosx
September 27, 2025, Farmingdale, Ny, United States: FARMINGDALE, NY - SEPTEMBER 27: Rory McIlroy of Team Europe walks down the fairway on hole 1 during the Ryder Cup - Morning Foursomes Matches at Bethpage Black Golf Course on September 27, 2025 in Farmingdale, NY. Farmingdale United States - ZUMAt139 20250927_aaa_t139_028 Copyright: xAlxChang/IsixPhotosx
Continuing his thought, the five-time major winner explained that trusting instinct has often worked better for him than overanalyzing situations.
He said,“But I’ve never really made a terrible decision when it’s been on gut instinct. I’ve made bad decisions when I’ve overthought things.”
That mindset has also been visible in several decisions twenty nine -time PGA Tour winner has made in recent seasons, where he has relied on instinct when dealing with health, equipment choices, and his role within the professional game.
Rory McIlroy’s Recent Decisions Show the Role of Instinct in His Approach
During the 2026 Arnold Palmer Invitational, he withdrew before the third round after feeling a “small twinge” in his back during a gym session. While he said he could have tried to continue, McIlroy chose not to risk the issue ahead of upcoming tournaments.
A similar choice has also shaped how he has approached his role within the professional game in recent years.
The twenty-time DP World Tour winner’s position within the professional game has also changed over time.
After previously being involved in discussions around the PGA Tour’s situation with LIV Golf, McIlroy later said he no longer wished to stay involved in those matters and instead wanted to focus on playing and shooting scores.
This instinctive decisions not only on the ground, but off the field has helped him carve a legendary career.
Read more at Daily Club Golf!
Written by
Aditi Singh
Edited by
Kalp Thaker