AUGUSTA, Ga. — Rory McIlroy finally ended his long wait for a career Grand Slam, achieving a dramatic victory at the Masters.
This monumental career achievement was filled with tension, mirroring his previous near misses.
The 35-year-old golfer from Northern Ireland overcame a shaky start and a challenging finish in the final round of the 89th Masters at Augusta National Golf Club on Sunday. He triumphed over Justin Rose in a sudden-death playoff, securing the coveted green jacket and becoming only the sixth golfer to accomplish a career Grand Slam.
McIlroy joins an exclusive club of golf legends who have won all four major championships in the Masters era: Gene Sarazen, Ben Hogan, Gary Player, Jack Nicklaus, and Tiger Woods.
`After 17 attempts here, I began to doubt if my time would ever come,` McIlroy admitted. `The pressure of the Grand Slam over the past decade has been immense, and now I wonder what the focus will be at next year`s Masters.`
In the playoff on the 18th hole, both McIlroy and Rose reached the fairway with their tee shots. Rose`s approach shot from 187 yards nearly went in, landing 15 feet past the hole. McIlroy`s second shot was even more precise, landing above the hole and rolling back to just 4 feet from the cup as the crowd cheered his name.
Rose`s birdie putt missed to the right after careful consideration. McIlroy seized his second chance to win the green jacket, sinking his putt after missing a shorter one on the 72nd hole.
McIlroy`s emotional reaction included throwing his putter in the air, burying his head in his hands, and falling to his knees in tears before embracing his caddie, Harry Diamond. He then shared the emotional moment with his wife, Erica, and daughter, Poppy, as he walked to the clubhouse to roaring applause.
On the practice green for the trophy presentation, McIlroy hugged his putting coach, Brad Faxon, remarking, `What a roller coaster.`
`This victory has been 14 years in the making, dating back to when I held a four-shot lead in 2011,` McIlroy reflected. `The overwhelming emotion on the 18th green made all the years of effort and close calls worthwhile.`
During the trophy presentation, McIlroy thanked his family and team, acknowledging their unwavering support throughout his journey.
`They have been with me every step of the way,` McIlroy said. `They understand the immense pressure I face each year returning here, striving to achieve this goal.`
Tiger Woods acknowledged McIlroy`s victory on social media, welcoming him to the exclusive club.
`Welcome to the club @McIlroyRory,` Woods posted on X. `Completing the Grand Slam at Augusta is truly special. Your perseverance throughout this journey has been evident, and now you are part of history. I`m proud of you!`
McIlroy`s final round of 1-over 73 secured his place in history at 11 under par. Rose, with a final round 66, including a 20-foot birdie on the 72nd hole, forced a playoff, the first at the Masters since 2017.
Rose had also been in the 2017 playoff, losing to Sergio Garcia.
On Sunday, Rose was six shots behind McIlroy after the 10th hole but rallied with six birdies in the final eight holes, including the clutch putt on 18.
`That kind of putt is what you dream of as a kid, and making it was an incredible feeling,` Rose said about his 18th-hole birdie. `Playoffs are sudden death, offering little opportunity. If you don`t make the crucial shot or putt, it`s over. I don`t think I could have done much more today.`
McIlroy had a chance to win on the 72nd hole, but after finding a greenside bunker with his approach, his par putt missed, leading to the playoff.
Patrick Reed, from LIV Golf and the 2018 Masters champion, finished third at 9 under. World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler finished fourth at 8 under. Bryson DeChambeau and Sungjae Im tied for fifth at 7 under.
This was McIlroy`s 11th attempt at completing the Grand Slam. He had held a four-stroke lead but faced a tense final stretch.
McIlroy delivered a crucial birdie on the 17th hole. He hit his approach shot to within 2 feet, taking a one-shot lead over Rose.
Despite this, McIlroy bogeyed the 18th, resulting in the playoff.
This is McIlroy’s fifth major victory and his first in over a decade, adding to his 2011 U.S. Open, 2012 and 2014 PGA Championship, and 2014 Open Championship wins.
McIlroy reached 13 under par early in the round, maintaining a four-stroke lead. However, bogeys at Amen Corner, including a double-bogey on the 13th hole after finding Rae’s Creek, allowed his competitors to close the gap.
Despite the setbacks, McIlroy rallied to secure the historic victory.
