Rory McIlroy has always been more than just a world-class golfer. Known for his curiosity and drive to improve, McIlroy is constantly looking for ways to grow—not just as an athlete, but as a leader. Whether on the course, in business, or through observing leaders in other fields, McIlroy believes greatness leaves behind lessons. And some of those lessons come from unexpected places, like words from an icon that McIlroy still carries with him to this day.

In a recent podcast, How Leaders Lead, McIlroy was asked by host David Novak to share one of the biggest leadership lessons he’s learned throughout his journey. What followed was a story about influence, intentionality, and a simple notebook that still holds words of wisdom from a surprising source. “I remember, uh, listening to one of your podcasts with Tom Brady a couple of years ago, and having my notebook beside me and writing down all these different things that Tom was saying to you about leadership, and especially in his position as a quarterback, trying to get everyone to work together,” McIlroy confessed. In fact, the words from NFL icon Tom Brady struck McIlroy so deeply that he wrote them down in his notebook—and it’s stayed there ever since.

The quote that stuck with Rory McIlroy and left a lasting impression came from Brady’s no-nonsense approach to discipline and efficiency. “You know, I’m not someone who lets the details go. I mean, I think I’m very intent on getting things done the way they needed to get done. I mean, and a lot of things I’ve learned over the years, again, don’t mistake activity for achievement,” Brady had said in an older podcast with Novak. “Working hard at the wrong things allows you to get better at getting worse. And, you know, if we’re going to work, we’re going to work at the right things,” Brady’s words continued. For McIlroy, this ethos around precision and purposeful effort resonated deeply, especially in a sport where small missteps can separate champions from the rest.

Brady’s philosophy of leadership also impressed McIlroy — “And I think from the day that I got here, I said, ‘Okay, these are the things that I’m going to apply on the field. I know these are the things that are going to come up. This is what we’re going to work on…” That kind of step-by-step leadership, built on clarity and collective progression, struck a chord with McIlroy, who, as an individual athlete, often leads in less visible ways. And these notes from Brady’s interview? McIlroy still carries them in his diary today — “And I’ve still got those notes from that podcast that I’ve listened to,” McIlroy confessed.

But what’s most revealing in McIlroy’s reflection is his broader takeaway from these words — the belief that mentors don’t have to be people you know. “You know, there’s a lot of books out there, there’s a lot of podcasts, there’s a lot of, you know, there’s a lot of everything. Um, especially in this day and age,” he said. McIlroy expressed that we have so much access on our fingertips today, and “your mentors don’t have to be people that you know.” He went on to add that he can listen to almost any person’s interviews he likes, be it a Warren Buffett or a Tom Brady, and he does not have to necessarily interact with them in person to understand how they work —“So that to me has been one of the biggest um one of the biggest lessons and and and one of the easiest ways to learn.”

He even added that the convenience of picking just a few lines is also what makes it helpful — “It makes it so worthwhile.” For a global sports icon who continues to evolve, it’s clear that leadership, like golf, is a lifelong pursuit — and one that sometimes starts with just a notebook and the right voice in your ear. That mindset, of constantly learning, refining, and reaching higher, has defined McIlroy’s journey from the very beginning.

Rory McIlroy’s relentless pursuit of excellence

Rory McIlroy’s journey to the top of the golfing world began with a simple, audacious goal — to become World No. 1. He first set that target when he was just seven years old, growing up in the small town of Holywood, Northern Ireland. “It was a dream I had from when I was a little boy growing up in Northern Ireland… in a town of 12,000 people,” McIlroy said. “The PGA Tour and Tiger Woods and all those guys were a world away from where I grew up,” he added.  Despite the distance, geographic and figurative, McIlroy never let go of that vision. Through relentless practice, early success, and an unwavering belief in his potential, he transformed a childhood dream into a reality.

That dream came true when McIlroy reached World No. 1 at just 22 years old in 2012, and in a poetic twist, it was Tiger Woods, his childhood idol, who finished second to him in the tournament (2012 Honda Classic) that sealed it —“To be able to achieve that at 22 years of age and to have Tiger Woods be the one that finished second to me… I couldn’t have scripted it any better,” McIlroy said. The moment wasn’t just a personal milestone; it was the fulfillment of a goal planted in childhood and worked hard on with years of dedication. For McIlroy, achieving World No. 1 wasn’t the end—it was just the beginning of proving to himself that dreams, even those born in small towns, can lead to global triumph, and his career grand slam this year was proof of that.