Top Rory McIlroy Golf Cards, Rookie Cards, Autographs, Gallery, Details

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Not since Tiger Woods has a golfer entered the PGA with as much hype and promise as Rory McIlroy. This excitement has carried over into the hobby with Rory McIlroy cards drawing plenty of attention.

Although Upper Deck signed McIlroy to an exclusive deal in 2012, he has very few cards since 2014. This puts more importance on his earliest releases, especially the UD Rory McIlroy rookie cards and autographs. Despite debuting in 2007, it took several years for his golf cards to show up.

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McIlroy already has four major championships to his name and is just entering his prime golf years. As a result, he could be poised for some big gains, pushing his limited card values much higher.

Below we've listed some of the most popular Rory McIlroy cards. The bolded sets in each description take you to full set breakdowns and checklists when available. Like Tiger Woods, most of the key options are issued by Upper Deck.

Top Rory McIlroy Cards to Collect

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2011 Sports Illustrated for Kids Rory McIlroy #83

The first Rory McIlroy card came inserted in the November 2011 issue of Sports Illustrated for Kids. Because they were included on a sheet of nine cards, edges are perforated. While regarded by many as an oddball card, its importance shouldn't be understated.

2012 SP Game Used Rory McIlroy #SP1

Upper Deck signed Rory McIlroy to a deal not long before 2012 SP Game Used Golf was released. Rather than include an official rookie card in the base set, they went with a specially numbered short print insert. This is the first Rory McIlroy card to find its way into traditional packs. It's a tough find, though, landing 1:72 packs in the high-end product.

2013 Upper Deck Employee Precious Metal Gems Rory McIlroy #E-RM #/125

Upper Deck has a long history of rewarding its employees with exclusive cards. In 2013, it was a set of six Purple Precious Metal Gems cards featuring athletes from several sports. Rory McIlroy was one of them and the card comes numbered to 125. The unique distribution and connection to the PMG name make it very popular.

2013 Upper Deck Goodwin Champions Autographs Rory McIlroy #AMC

The 2013 UD Goodwin Champions set was the first mainstream product to have a Rory McIlroy card. Distributed via redemption, it's not easy to track down. Further complicating matters is the fact that it is part of the Group A short prints, which are the rarest cards on the autograph checklist. Rather than a traditional photo, the image is a painted rendition of the golfer. McIlroy also has a Sports Royalty Autograph in the product that is easier to pull.

2014 UD Exquisite Collection Rory McIlroy RC #86 Autographed Shirt #/99

Exquisite has made some of the most valuable modern cards in the hobby and their first foray into golf has not changed the end result. This Rory McIlroy rookie card is the benchmark for high-end McIlroy collectors thanks to an on-card signature, tournament-used relic and limited print run. In addition to the base version, the one-of-one Gold Spectrum Rookie Auto Swatch version is shown below.

McIlroy also has several other signed cards in 2014 Exquisite Golf, including choices in Dimensions, Endorsements, Inscriptions, Signature Masterpiece, Signed Jumbo Swatch, UD Black Signatures, and UD Black Lustrous, plus several multi-player autographs.

2014 SP Authentic Rory McIlroy RC #100 Autograph #/299

When it comes to Rory McIlroy rookie cards, expect to pay a lot. Each choice from Upper Deck comes with an autograph, which may put them beyond the price range of many collectors. Numbered to 299, the 2014 SP Authentic Rory McIlroy is his most plentiful. It also comes with strong brand recognition. McIlroy has several other cards, including autographs, in 2014 SP Authentic Golf, but this one is the most important.

2014 SP Game Used Rory McIlroy RC #56 Autographed Shirt #/199

There are some pros and cons when you compare this card to McIlroy's SP Authentic rookie. On the plus side, the 2014 SP Game Used Rory McIlroy rookie card is rarer, numbered to just 199 copies. It also has a piece of shirt worn by McIlroy. As far as the cons, the signature is on a sticker. Also, SP Game Used doesn't quite have the brand recognition as SP Authentic. That said, this card isn't cheap nor will it ever be.

2014 SP Game Used Inked Drivers Rory McIlroy #IDRM Autograph

Also found in SP Game Used, the Inked Drivers cards are among the most unique autograph cards not only in golf, but the entire hobby. They use a faux driver face as the signature spot. Similar to baseball's Sweet Spot Signatures, the look is distinct and connects directly to the sport. Besides the basic version, McIlroy has several Inked Driver parallels with different color plates that are numbered to 15 or less.