AUGUSTA, Ga. — Ultimately, after Rory McIlroy twice approached the final fairway with a chance to clinch the Masters, overcoming several rivals and his own errors during an emotionally charged 19 holes, after sinking to his knees in a surge of emotion, he paused near the Augusta National clubhouse.
He had at last scaled his personal Everest. Only one task remained. With flushed cheeks and tearful eyes, he turned to his companions and spoke the words he had longed to utter for over a decade:
`I need to go get that green jacket.`
On Sunday, the weight of an 11-year major championship drought hung heavy, and Augusta`s cheers were poised to celebrate McIlroy`s breakthrough. Yet, as he navigated what he described as a rollercoaster round, murmurs of doubt also circulated.
`Oh my God,` exclaimed a spectator after McIlroy`s double bogey on the first hole.
`It`s just nerves,` another commented, as McIlroy ceded the lead to Bryson DeChambeau on the second.
One spectator buried his face in his hands: `He`s repeating past mistakes.`
When McIlroy`s ball found Rae’s Creek on the 13th for another double bogey, followed by a bogey on 14, and a final bogey on 18 despite a birdie on 17, it seemed like history was repeating itself: another major opportunity lost. Even McIlroy himself had fleeting doubts.
`There were moments on the back nine today when I wondered, “Have I let it slip away again?”` McIlroy admitted. `My real opponent today was myself, not anyone else.`
This victory was more than a decade in the making. Past near-misses and disappointments had left their mark, creating a sense of vulnerability between aspiration and triumph. It was almost fitting that the victory unfolded this way – a six-shot lead shrinking with eight holes remaining, each stroke feeling laden with significance, threatening to cast him once more into defeat, only to finally deliver relief in the form of a playoff victory.
`This is the greatest day of my golfing career,` McIlroy declared. `I have genuinely realized my dreams.`
A win at St. Andrews in 2022 would have been deeply symbolic. Victory at the 2023 U.S. Open at Los Angeles Country Club would have showcased his game`s evolution. Triumph at Pinehurst last year could have dramatically ended his major drought.
Yet, none of these wins would have resolved the lingering question: Could McIlroy triumph at Augusta?
For McIlroy, this tournament holds profound personal significance, marking milestones throughout his golfing journey. Memories of watching the Masters at age 7 with his father resurfaced when he spoke on Tuesday and again on Sunday evening.
`I believe all of that comes back to me,` McIlroy reflected. `Remembering the initial spark of my passion for golf.`
Two years after turning professional in 2007, McIlroy made his Masters debut in 2009, finishing tied for 20th. He has participated every year since – 17 times in total – experiencing both close calls and disappointments. Over nearly two decades, both the world of golf and its premier tournament have evolved, and so has McIlroy.
The voluminous, dark curls that framed his 17-year-old face as he first drove down Magnolia Lane are gone, replaced by a shorter haircut. Graying temples now indicate the years he has spent in the sport and serve as a reminder of the numerous opportunities he has had to achieve what he finally accomplished on Sunday: completing a career Grand Slam, the pinnacle of golf.
`I feel like I`ve carried this weight since August 2014,` McIlroy confessed. `It has been incredibly challenging. Today was especially tough.`
McIlroy spoke extensively about the nerves he battled throughout Sunday. He discussed the pressure, both internal and external, amplified by legends like Jack Nicklaus and Tiger Woods predicting his Masters victory as if it were inevitable.
However, Sunday’s dramatic performance underscored that McIlroy`s path is distinct from that of Nicklaus or Woods. It isn’t a question of talent, but his journey, much like the week’s events with its quadruple bogeys and unpredictable swings, reveals that the highs and lows are integral to his narrative.
`You must maintain eternal optimism,` McIlroy stated. `I genuinely believe I am a superior player now compared to a decade ago.`
His mantra of patience, faith, and resilience in the face of repeated setbacks reached a critical point at Pinehurst the previous year. That loss cast uncertainty over McIlroy’s immediate future, necessitating what felt like a complete reset. McIlroy responded by taking time off, wandering through New York City alone, and eventually returning to practice his swing in a simulator.
A minor technical adjustment, mental rejuvenation, and a new year ushered in a refined version of McIlroy. He secured wins at Pebble Beach and then at the Players Championship, acknowledging Scottie Scheffler`s dominant year as motivation and displaying a remarkable balance of control and aggression.
Yet, the central question persisted, now more pressing than ever: Could he conquer the Masters? On Sunday, he delivered the long-awaited affirmation. It also demonstrated the depth of his desire.
`This is my 17th appearance here, and I began to question if my time would ever come,` McIlroy admitted. `The emotion that poured out of me on the final green in the playoff was the culmination of at least 11, if not 14 years, of suppressed feelings.`
`I accomplished what I set out to do.`
In a video released by the PGA Tour earlier on Sunday, McIlroy is asked about his jacket size. He mentions he wears a 38 or 40 short, depending on his weekly diet.
`I prefer a more European style,` McIlroy explains in the video. `A bit more fitted, more tapered and snug.`
On Sunday, Scheffler helped McIlroy into the green jacket. It was a size 38 regular, slightly loose and not yet tailored to McIlroy`s precise preferences. But as the wool enveloped his shoulders, McIlroy closed his eyes, raised his hands, and looked upwards.
The fit didn’t need to be perfect; everything else already was.
