McIlroy Clinches Masters Victory, Completes Career Grand Slam: "Rory's time!"
Rory McIlroy ended his lengthy pursuit of a Masters title by securing a birdie on the opening hole of a sudden-death playoff, ultimately defeating Justin Rose and achieving a career Grand Slam during a tense final round on Sunday. After narrowly...
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Rory McIlroy ended his lengthy pursuit of a Masters title by securing a birdie on the opening hole of a sudden-death playoff, ultimately defeating Justin Rose and achieving a career Grand Slam during a tense final round on Sunday.
After narrowly missing a five-foot par putt at the 18th hole in regulation, which pushed him into a playoff, McIlroy ensured he capitalized on his next opportunity, returning to the same hole during the extra session to make his approach from just two feet away.
As the winning putt fell, the Northern Irishman raised his arms to the clear sky and let his putter drop behind him, falling to his knees in a moment of overwhelming emotion.
He then shared an embrace with his wife Erica and daughter Poppy while cheers of "Rory! Rory!" echoed around the green, before heading to Butler Cabin to collect the Green Jacket he almost lost after a shaky back nine.
"There was a lot of pent-up emotion that just came out on that 18th green," McIlroy reflected just before donning the Green Jacket at the presentation ceremony. "A moment like that makes all the years and all the close calls worth it."
With this victory, McIlroy joins an elite group of golfers—Gene Sarazen, Ben Hogan, Gary Player, Jack Nicklaus, and Tiger Woods—who have won all four major championships.
At 35, McIlroy arrived at the season's first major, where he experienced a four-shot lead collapse on the back nine in 2011, seeking his first major title since August 2014 amid a series of near misses.
As the closing round unfolded, it seemed McIlroy was once again facing major disappointment, as players jostled for positions on the leaderboard at a dizzying pace.
The World No. 2 initially had command of the tournament, but unexpectedly lost a comfortable four-shot lead before delivering two incredible shots late to keep his dreams alive.
On the par-five 15th hole, McIlroy executed a stunning draw that curved around some branches and soared over the pond protecting the green, landing six feet from the hole. Although he missed the eagle putt, the birdie propelled him one shot ahead of Rose.
After Rose, who was playing five groups ahead, tied the score with a 20-foot birdie on the 18th, McIlroy wowed onlookers again with a brilliant shot at the par-four 17th, where his approach from 197 yards came to rest just two feet from the cup.
McIlroy had a chance to seal his fifth major title in regulation but missed a five-foot par putt on the 18th before ultimately clinching victory in the playoff, making him the sixth golfer—and the first European—to complete the career Grand Slam of golf's four majors.
"This is my 17th time here, and I started to wonder if it would ever be my time," McIlroy said. "I think the last 10 years, coming here with the burden of the Grand Slam on my shoulders and trying to achieve that, yeah, I'm sort of wondering what we're all going to talk about going into next year's Masters."
For Rose, it marked yet another disappointing outcome at the Masters, having previously lost to Sergio Garcia in a playoff in 2017, and now finishing as runner-up three times at Augusta National.
Ian Smith for TROIB News
After narrowly missing a five-foot par putt at the 18th hole in regulation, which pushed him into a playoff, McIlroy ensured he capitalized on his next opportunity, returning to the same hole during the extra session to make his approach from just two feet away.
As the winning putt fell, the Northern Irishman raised his arms to the clear sky and let his putter drop behind him, falling to his knees in a moment of overwhelming emotion.
He then shared an embrace with his wife Erica and daughter Poppy while cheers of "Rory! Rory!" echoed around the green, before heading to Butler Cabin to collect the Green Jacket he almost lost after a shaky back nine.
"There was a lot of pent-up emotion that just came out on that 18th green," McIlroy reflected just before donning the Green Jacket at the presentation ceremony. "A moment like that makes all the years and all the close calls worth it."
With this victory, McIlroy joins an elite group of golfers—Gene Sarazen, Ben Hogan, Gary Player, Jack Nicklaus, and Tiger Woods—who have won all four major championships.
At 35, McIlroy arrived at the season's first major, where he experienced a four-shot lead collapse on the back nine in 2011, seeking his first major title since August 2014 amid a series of near misses.
As the closing round unfolded, it seemed McIlroy was once again facing major disappointment, as players jostled for positions on the leaderboard at a dizzying pace.
The World No. 2 initially had command of the tournament, but unexpectedly lost a comfortable four-shot lead before delivering two incredible shots late to keep his dreams alive.
On the par-five 15th hole, McIlroy executed a stunning draw that curved around some branches and soared over the pond protecting the green, landing six feet from the hole. Although he missed the eagle putt, the birdie propelled him one shot ahead of Rose.
After Rose, who was playing five groups ahead, tied the score with a 20-foot birdie on the 18th, McIlroy wowed onlookers again with a brilliant shot at the par-four 17th, where his approach from 197 yards came to rest just two feet from the cup.
McIlroy had a chance to seal his fifth major title in regulation but missed a five-foot par putt on the 18th before ultimately clinching victory in the playoff, making him the sixth golfer—and the first European—to complete the career Grand Slam of golf's four majors.
"This is my 17th time here, and I started to wonder if it would ever be my time," McIlroy said. "I think the last 10 years, coming here with the burden of the Grand Slam on my shoulders and trying to achieve that, yeah, I'm sort of wondering what we're all going to talk about going into next year's Masters."
For Rose, it marked yet another disappointing outcome at the Masters, having previously lost to Sergio Garcia in a playoff in 2017, and now finishing as runner-up three times at Augusta National.
Ian Smith for TROIB News
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