PGA Tour pro breaks silence on Rory McIlroy's potential retirement timeline and shares an honest verdict

Rory McIlroy, right after finishing the career Grand Slam at the Masters Tournament in 2025, began the season with nothing to improve. At 36 years old, he is undoubtedly a future Hall of Fame player.

However, he continues his ongoing excellence on the golf course. One PGA Tour professional believes that McIlroy may be planning an earlier retirement from the game than anticipated.During an open conversation with Trey Wingo, 38-year-old Joel Dahmen stated, "I mean, Rory, this is what, let’s call him, 35, 36 maybe. So, I mean, he’s worth it. I mean, I think he’s going to be the next billionaire or something out there.

It’s like, is he going to want to play after 40? So, it’ll be curious to see a lot of these guys won’t even continue on that path. I don’t think they will because they already have; they’ve done everything they can in the game, and they have enough money that it doesn’t matter anymore.

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Joel Dahmen states the reality behind early retirement

Joel Dahmen thinks that the biggest stars in golf might not have careers that last into their 40s like earlier generations. He thinks that it was necessary in the past because players still needed to secure their earnings.

Unlike before, big prize money isn’t mainly awarded at the start.

He said, “It used to be you kind of had to play past 40 if you could, and you just continued to grind all the way to the Champions Tour. Now, I think you’re going to see shorter golf careers as this first batch of, you know, I don’t know what Scottie is, 30? [He’s not even 30.] Crazy.”Stars like Rory McIlroy and Scottie Scheffler receive tens of millions in prize money every year, in contrast to the old days.

Furthermore, they are also qualified for bonuses and endorsements as well. Therefore, financial security is achieved faster than ever; the traditional motivation to work hard into the Champions Tour years may no longer apply, according to the American golfer.Joel Dahmen added, "I think we’re 10 years away from that really being seen. But I think the way that guys are obviously, fitness has gotten better, but that also means swinging faster, right? And they’re bigger, faster, and stronger.

Well, your body’s not going to last if you’re swinging the golf club 185 or 190 miles an hour, as long as guys who used to dink it around 165 miles an hour, right? So, I think they’re going to have enough money.

They’re going to put everything they can into this thing for 15 years. They’re going to make a pile of it. Their bodies are going to get tired. They’re going to have their families settle down, and they’re going to have $250 million and be like, "I'm good."

I’ve traveled my whole career. I’ve done all this. I’ll settle down now.”Apparently, Trey Wingo pointed out how massive early earnings are altering athlete motivation. With NIL deals in college football, some athletes are earning as much as or more than they might as late-round picks in the NFL. He suggests that this same dynamic could apply in golf, echoing the same thought shared by Dahmen.