Rory McIlroy before 2024 US Open: "I don't want to do that to myself"

Rory McIlroy revealed he doesn't particularly set career goals anymore but the Northern Irishman has set his sights on becoming the greatest ever European golfer. 

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McIlroy made the claim on Tuesday in his pre-tournament news conference ahead of the 2024 US Open at Pinehurst No.2. 

The 35-year-old will be playing the first two rounds of the third men's major of the year in a blockbuster group alongside world number one Scottie Scheffler and recent PGA Championship winner Xander Schauffele. 

Despite McIlroy's exhaustive list of career achievements, it has been 10 years since the Ulsterman got his hands on one of the big four. 

"I've always said I still feel like being the most successful European in the game is within my reach," McIlroy said when asked if he still sets career goals. 

"I've got obviously Seve and Nick Faldo to pass there in terms of major wins.

"I'm really proud of my body of work over the past 15 years and everything that I have achieved, whether it be season-long titles or individual tournaments or majors. 

"Obviously getting my hands on a fifth major has taken quite a while, but I'm more confident than ever that I'm right there, that I'm as close as I've ever been.

"I wouldn't say I've got, like, a particular number of wins. I mean, I want to win as many golf tournaments as I can. I want to try to compete and win as many majors as I can.

"I think the only thing about trying to pick a number is that you're setting yourself up for failure or disappointment. Tiger wanted to surpass Jack. 

"It looks like he mightn't get there, but are we going to call Tiger's career a failure? Absolutely not. He's arguably the best. He's played the best golf anyone's ever seen."

McIlroy said there is a danger in setting himself a numerical target, though. 

"There's always going to be that tinge of what could have been," he said.  

"I don't want to do that to myself. If someone would have told me at 20 years old I'd be sitting here at 35 and this is the career I've had, I would not have believed them and I would have been ecstatic."

McIlroy contended that he's still got at least another decade at the elite level. 

"I still like to think I've got a good run ahead of me," he added. 

"Whatever those numbers are, whatever the totals add up to, I'll accept that and feel like I've done pretty well for a little boy from Northern Ireland that dreamed of playing golf for a living one day."

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