Rory McIlroy completes his career grand slam with the Masters victory. Photo: Masters.com
On April 13, 2025, Rory McIlroy etched his name into golfing immortality by winning the 89th Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club, completing the career Grand Slam and ending an 11-year major championship drought.
The victory, secured in a dramatic sudden-death playoff against Justin Rose, was not just a win—it was a cathartic release of years of pressure, near-misses, and unrelenting expectations. At 35, McIlroy became the sixth golfer in history to win all four majors, joining legends Gene Sarazen, Ben Hogan, Gary Player, Jack Nicklaus, and Tiger Woods.
McIlroy entered the final round with a two-shot lead over Bryson DeChambeau, buoyed by a stellar third-round 66 that included two eagles. His confidence was palpable, built on a strong 2025 season with wins at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am and The Players Championship. Yet, Augusta has always tested McIlroy’s resolve, haunted by past collapses, notably in 2011 when he squandered a four-shot lead with a final-round 80. On this Sunday, history seemed poised to repeat itself.
Rory McIlroy. Photo: Masters.com
The final round was a rollercoaster. McIlroy started disastrously, carding a double bogey on the first hole after finding a fairway bunker and three-putting. Another double bogey on the 13th, where he dumped a wedge into Rae’s Creek, erased a four-shot lead, drawing gasps from patrons and reviving memories of past failures.
Justin Rose, meanwhile, mounted a ferocious charge, firing a 6-under 66 with six birdies in his final eight holes to finish at 11-under, matching McIlroy’s total.
McIlroy’s resilience shone through. On the par-5 15th, he executed a jaw-dropping 208-yard hook around trees, landing his ball six feet from the pin. Though he missed the eagle putt, the birdie regained the lead. A clutch birdie on the 17th followed, with an 8-iron to three feet, showcasing his iron play under pressure. But drama awaited on the 18th. Needing par to win, McIlroy’s approach found a greenside bunker, and his five-foot par putt slid left, forcing a playoff.
Rory McIlroy at the 18th green. Photo: Masters.com
The playoff returned to the 18th. Both players hit the fairway, but McIlroy’s approach was sublime, landing 10 feet from the pin. Rose’s shot was solid but left a longer putt. When Rose missed, McIlroy seized the moment, draining his birdie putt and collapsing to his knees in tears. “It’s my 17th time here, and I started to wonder if it would ever be my time,” McIlroy said, his voice cracking. “I’m just so proud to call myself a Masters champion.”
The win earned McIlroy US$4.2 million and the coveted green jacket, presented by 2024 champion Scottie Scheffler. Tiger Woods, the last to complete the Grand Slam, posted on X: “Welcome to the club @McIlroyRory. Your determination showed through.” Jack Nicklaus, who had mentored McIlroy before the tournament, called his resilience “remarkable.”
McIlroy’s journey to this moment was fraught with adversity—21 major top-10s since 2014 without a win, missed putts at Pinehurst in 2024, and constant scrutiny. Yet, his four double bogeys in the tournament, a Masters record for a champion, underscored his grit. “I responded to setbacks,” McIlroy reflected. “That’s what I’ll take from this week.”
For McIlroy, the victory was personal too. Embracing his wife Erica and daughter Poppy, who charmed Augusta at the Par-3 Contest, he dedicated the win to his family. “This is for them,” he said, tears welling. The roars at Augusta echoed a legacy sealed—not just a win, but a redemption 14 years in the making.
