Rory McIlroy’s long wait for a win at Augusta National ended on Sunday when he won the first hole of the Masters’ play-off, beating off England’s Justin Rose to seal the title. Following the victory, the Northern Irishman claimed his first green jacket and a $4.2million prize. He has now completed the rare career Grand Slam, becoming only the sixth player in history to win all four major championships.
Sunday’s victory ended an almost 11-year wait for a fifth major title, and he did it by winning the only major he had not already won, making it a double victory.
McIlroy entered the final round with a two-shot lead and extended his advantage to four strokes on the back nine. The closing holes, however, proved to be a rollercoaster of emotions.
A bogey on the 72nd hole dropped him into a playoff with Rose, who had surged up the leaderboard with a brilliant round of 66. Under immense pressure, McIlroy delivered on the first playoff hole, sinking a birdie putt on the 18th to secure victory and don the green jacket at last.
Reflecting on his achievement, McIlroy said, “It’s a dream come true. I’ve dreamt about that moment for as long as I can remember. Watching Tiger [Woods] here in 1997 do what he did inspired so many of my generation to want to emulate him. There were points in my career where I didn’t know if I’d ever have this garment over my shoulders”.
The weight of expectations from fans and legends alike had been palpable throughout his career. “You’ve had Jack [Nicklaus], Gary [Player], Tom [Watson], Tiger – you name it – come through here and say I’ll win the Masters one day. That’s a hard load to carry,” McIlroy admitted.
McIlroy’s journey to this moment has been marked by near-misses and heartbreaks, most notably his infamous collapse in 2011 when he squandered a four-shot lead in the final round. Since then, he has consistently contended at Augusta, finishing in the top ten six times, including a runner-up finish in 2022.
Each spring brought renewed speculation, as both critics and fans wondered if it was going to be McIlroy’s time. He has, at last, answered that question and silenced all doubts.
With this victory, McIlroy joins legendary company Gene Sarazen, Ben Hogan, Gary Player, Jack Nicklaus, and Tiger Woods as players who have achieved golf’s ultimate feat: winning all four majors. He also becomes the first European to accomplish this milestone since Jim Barnes won three majors before The Masters was established in 1934.
