Rory McIlroy has received the Laureus World Comeback of the Year Award after completing the career Grand Slam in 2025, 11 years after his last Major win.
The Northern Irishman’s history of heartbreak at Augusta National had become the stuff of sporting legend. In 2025, he rewrote that script, taking sports fans on the kind of final round roller-coaster that had previously left them sick to their stomachs and this time finding a thrilling finish in a playoff against Justin Rose.
McIlroy became the sixth golfer to complete the Grand Slam – and then defended his title in 2026, a feat only achieved previously by Jack Nicklaus, Nick Faldo and Tiger Woods. In 2012, his countryman Darren Clarke won this Laureus and McIlroy also received the Laureus World Breakthrough of the Year Award.
Speaking remotely at the 2026 Laureus World Sports Awards, which were held in Madrid on Monday night, McIlroy said: “Winning my second Laureus Award is a huge honour, both personally and for golf. To have the sport recognised on a global stage like this, alongside so many great athletes, means a lot. There are certain moments in your career that stay with you, and winning The Masters is one I’ll carry with me forever. To then have a year like that recognised by Laureus is very special.
“Completing the career Grand Slam was incredibly emotional. It’s something I’ve been chasing for a long time, and it probably means more because of everything that came before it — the near misses, the setbacks, and the questions along the way. That’s a big part of the journey, and I’m grateful that this award recognises that. I also want to congratulate all of the nominees, especially those in my category. There are some amazing stories there, and I’ve taken a lot of inspiration from them.
“I know the Laureus Awards were founded by Johann Rupert, whom I’m fortunate to know, so that makes this even more meaningful. I also believe strongly in what Laureus stands for and the idea, as Nelson Mandela said, that sport has the power to change the world.”