Rory McIlroy secured his first Masters victory and completed golf’s career Grand Slam on Sunday at Augusta National, defeating Justin Rose in a sudden-death playoff with a four-foot birdie putt. The world number two from Northern Ireland overcame multiple setbacks during the final round, including squandering the solo lead three times, to join the elite group of players who have won all four major championships.
McIlroy’s historic triumph came after 17 attempts at the Masters, making him the sixth golfer alongside Jack Nicklaus, Tiger Woods, Gary Player, Gene Sarazen, and Ben Hogan to achieve the career Grand Slam.
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“It feels incredible. This is my 17th time here. I was wondering if it would ever be my time. I’m thrilled and so proud to be able to call myself a Masters champion,” McIlroy said.
The victory earned McIlroy a record $4.2 million prize from the tournament’s $21 million purse, along with the coveted green jacket.
“The last 10 years coming here with the burden of the Grand Slam on my shoulders and trying to achieve that, I’m sort of wondering what we’re all going to talk about going into next year’s Masters,” McIlroy reflected.
The dramatic finale unfolded when McIlroy needed a par on the 72nd hole to win but hit his approach into a greenside bunker and missed a five-foot par putt, forcing a playoff with Rose at 11-under 277.
“My battle today was with myself. How I responded to setbacks, that’s what I’ll take from this week,” McIlroy stated.
In the playoff, Rose’s approach landed 15 feet from the hole, while McIlroy placed his shot within four feet. After Rose missed his birdie attempt, McIlroy made his putt to clinch the victory.
“I’ve dreamed about that moment for as long as I can remember,” McIlroy said.
The emotional win triggered an outpouring of feelings as McIlroy dropped to his knees on the 18th green, crying and later embracing his caddie Harry Diamond, wife, and daughter while fans chanted his name.
“There was a lot of pent up emotion that came out on that 18th green. A moment like that makes all the years and all the close calls worth it,” McIlroy shared.
The 35-year-old’s journey to victory included overcoming a double-bogey start that erased his initial two-shot lead, briefly falling behind Bryson DeChambeau before reclaiming the lead through two-shot swings on consecutive holes.
“I would say it was 14 years in the making, from going out with a four-shot lead in 2011 and feeling I could have done something there,” McIlroy recalled, referencing his previous Masters disappointment.
McIlroy’s final round of 73 included a double-bogey at the par-five 13th and a bogey at 14, but he responded with crucial birdies at the 15th and 17th holes.
“It’s the best day of my golfing life. I’m very proud of myself for never giving up and always fighting back,” McIlroy declared.
Rose mounted a strong challenge with a closing round of 66, including birdies on six of the last eight holes, but ultimately fell short in the playoff.
The victory marked McIlroy’s third title of the year, following wins at The Players Championship and the Pebble Beach Pro-Am, bringing his career US PGA Tour victories to 29.
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