Rory McIlroy career in pictures

We retrace Rory McIlroy career looking at a series of photos, from his Faldo Series win aged 15, to claiming his third major title at Royal Liverpool in 2014.

A child star from a young age in his native Norther Ireland, Rory McIlroy (opens in new tab) broke par aged 11, and was soon picked for the Boys Home Internationals at  Portmarnock in 2004.

In the same year a fresh faced Rory McIlroy won the Under 15s Faldo Series Final, a sign of bigger things to come.

Making his Open Championship debut seven years before he would go on to win it, Rory McIlroy won the Silver Medal at Carnoustie in 2007.

Racking up the honours, Rory McIlroy made up part of the British team during the 2007 Walker Cup matches held on the links of Royal County Down, where hundreds of local supporters turned out to watch a star in the making.

He had to persevere after two playoff defeats in 2008, but finally in 2009 at the Dubai Desert Classic at the Emirates Golf Club McIlroy got over the line on the European Tour.

That win was soon followed with his maiden win stateside, where a birdie putt on the 18th green secured victory on the PGA Tour at the 2010 Quail Hollow Championship.

Rory McIlroy missed out on a chance to win his first major at the 2010 US PGA at Whistling Straits when he three-putted the 15th green to fall out of a tie for the lead. He eventually finished one stroke out of the playoff between Bubba Watson and winner Martin Kaymer.

In his first Ryder Cup Rory McIlroy won a crucial half-point to help Europe regain the cup. Following the Ryder Cup, he announced he would return to play full-time on the European Tour, although he also stated that he would continue to play 11 or 12 tournaments in America per year.

McIlro made his major breakthrough at the 2011 US Open at Congressional, with an eight shot victory over Jason Day. During the win, the Northern Irishman set several records, most notably, his 72-hole aggregate score of 268 (16-under).

A year later Rory McIlroy added to his major haul by winning the US PGA Championship by another record eight strokes. With the win, he became the youngest multiple major champion since Seve Ballesteros won The Masters in 1980.

A second place at the BMW Masters for Rory McIlroy was followed by a third place at the Singapore Open to wrap up the Race to Dubai title with two events remaining. To finish off his season, the Northern Irishman won the DP World Tour Championship by making birdies on the last five holes to beat Justin Rose by two strokes.

After joining Nike in January, McIlroy began 2013 with high aspirations, but struggled to fare well in early tournaments. His season ended on a high though, winning the Australian Open with birdie on the 72nd hole to beat local hero Adam Scott.

In 2014 Rory McIlroy peaked just in time at the 143rd Open Championship to win his third major and edge closer to a career Grand Slam at the age of just 25.