Rory McIlroy is back up to number two in the world golf rankings and he is once again challenging for Major Championship wins.

The Northern Irishman has been successful 21 times on the PGA Tour, but prior to 2022, his form had been shaky for a number of years. Here is a look at how the 33-year-old has been able to find his best game again.

Working with Michael Bannon Again

Rory McIlroy goes into the final major of 2022 as the +750 favorite in the Open Championship winner odds. He will be hoping to end the year strongly and close the gap on world number Scottie Scheffler.

McIlroy took the decision last November to work with long-term coach Michael Bannon again. Although he never parted ways with Bannon, he opted to spend eight months working with Pete Crown in 2021.

Bannon knows McIlroy’s game inside out, and if any adjustments were required, he will have helped his player fine-tune his swing. That reunion looks to be paying dividends now, and it is likely to be a partnership which will continue.

Confidence is Sky High

Winning golf tournaments brings about confidence, especially with McIlroy, as he is a player who has often gone through waves of hot form throughout his career. None more so than in 2014 when he prevailed in back-to-back majors in the Open and PGA Championship.

In 2021, McIlroy won his first tournament in two years when he landed the Wells Fargo Championship. He scored by one stroke ahead of Abraham Ancer. This season, he has already been successful on two occasions. He won the CJ Cup back in October, while more recently, he regained his title in the Canadian Open.

McIlroy has been very consistent in the Major Championships in 2022. He finished second in the Masters, he ended the weekend in eighth place at the PGA Championship and in the US Open he was fifth. It is the first time in his career that he has been in the top 10 in three of the four majors in the same year.

Chasing Career Grand Slam

One of McIlroy’s biggest goals before he retires will be to win the Masters. Victory in the opening major of the year will ensure he completes the Calendar Grand Slam, as he has been successful in the US Open, PGA Championship and Open Championship.

McIlroy has finished in the top 10 at Augusta on seven occasions, so he enjoys playing at the course in Georgia. Between 2014 and 2018, he did no worse than a tie for 10th place in the tournament in April.

Only five players in the modern era have been successful in all four Major Championships. Jack Nicklaus, Tiger Woods, Ben Hogan, Gary Player and Gene Sarazen have managed the feat, so he would be joining some of the all-time greats if he was able to complete his set.

McIlroy has shown there is plenty more golf left in his career. If he continues playing as well as he is doing now, he is going to win a lot of tournaments over the next few years.