AUGUSTA, Ga. — Rory McIlroy’s lengthy and arduous pursuit of the career Grand Slam has finally reached a triumphant conclusion.
His most significant accomplishment to date was marked by the same tension and drama that characterized his previous near victories.
The 35-year-old golfer from Northern Ireland navigated a rocky beginning and an even more challenging finish during the final round of the 89th Masters at Augusta National Golf Club on Sunday. He ultimately triumphed over Justin Rose in the first hole of a sudden-death playoff, securing a green jacket and becoming only the sixth golfer in history to achieve the career Grand Slam.
McIlroy now stands alongside legends Gene Sarazen, Ben Hogan, Gary Player, Jack Nicklaus, and Tiger Woods as one of the few to have won all four major championships during the Masters era.
“This is my 17th appearance here, and I began to question whether my time would ever come,” McIlroy remarked. “Over the past decade, I’ve come here carrying the weight of the Grand Slam, and now I find myself curious about what we will discuss as we approach next year’s Masters.”
During the playoff on the par-4 18th hole, both competitors found the fairway with their tee shots. Rose’s approach from 187 yards nearly reached the hole, but his ball rolled 15 feet past. McIlroy’s second shot was even more impressive, landing on the slope above the hole and rolling back just 4 feet from the cup, as the crowd surrounding the green erupted in chants of his name.
After carefully studying his putt, Justin Rose’s birdie attempt failed to break and stayed to the right, leaving Rory McIlroy with a second chance to win his first green jacket after missing a crucial 5-footer on the 72nd hole. This time, McIlroy did not falter.
Overcome with emotion, McIlroy tossed his putter into the air, buried his head in his hands, and fell to his knees in tears. He embraced his caddie, Harry Diamond, before finding his wife, Erica, and daughter, Poppy. Still visibly emotional, McIlroy made the long walk from the 18th green to the clubhouse as thousands of fans cheered him on.
Later, during the trophy presentation, McIlroy hugged his putting coach, Brad Faxon, and remarked, “What a roller coaster.” Reflecting on his journey, he said, “It was 14 years in the making—from losing a four-shot lead in 2011 to all the close calls since. A moment like that makes all those years worth it.”
McIlroy expressed his gratitude to his family and team while receiving the trophy, just prior to donning his green jacket.
“They have been with me throughout this entire journey,” McIlroy remarked. “They understand the weight I have carried in my efforts to return here year after year, persistently striving for success.”
Woods, who is familiar with the pressures of the game, also extended his congratulations to McIlroy via social media.
“Welcome to the club @McIlroyRory,” Woods wrote on X. “Achieving the grand slam at Augusta is truly remarkable. Your resolve during this round and throughout your journey has been evident, and now you are part of history. I am proud of you!”
Welcome to the club @McIlroyRory. Completing the grand slam at Augusta is something special. Your determination during this round, and this entire journey has shown through, and now you’re a part of history. Proud of you!
— Tiger Woods (@TigerWoods) April 14, 2025
McIlroy did just enough in the final round, shooting a 1-over 73 to finish at 11-under par and secure his spot in golf’s most exclusive club. Justin Rose, who also finished at 11-under, mounted an impressive comeback with a 6-under 66, capped by a dramatic 20-foot birdie putt on the 72nd hole, forcing the first playoff at the Masters since 2017.
Rose had also participated in that 2017 playoff, where he lost to Sergio Garcia on the first hole. On Sunday, Rose trailed McIlroy by six strokes through 10 holes but surged back with six birdies and two bogeys over the final eight holes, including the clutch birdie on No. 18 that erased the deficit.
Reflecting on his putt to force extra holes, Rose said, “It’s the kind of putt you dream about as a kid, and to have it and hole it was a special feeling. Unfortunately, playoffs end so quickly. If you’re not the guy to hit the great shot or hole the great putt, it’s over. But I don’t think I could have done more today.”
On the 72nd hole, Rory McIlroy had a chance to secure his first green jacket. His tee shot landed safely in the fairway, but his approach veered right, finding a greenside bunker. Displaying composure, McIlroy chipped out to within 5 feet but missed the par putt, sending the tournament into a playoff against Justin Rose.
Meanwhile, Patrick Reed, the 2018 Masters champion, finished third at 9-under after a final-round 69. World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler, aiming for his third Masters title in four years, shot a 69 to finish fourth at 8-under. Bryson DeChambeau (75) and Sungjae Im (69) tied for fifth at 7-under.
This marked McIlroy’s 11th attempt to complete the career Grand Slam—the longest among those who have achieved it. For much of Sunday, it seemed he might have to wait another year after squandering a four-shot lead on the back nine in what turned into a dramatic and nerve-wracking finish.
On the brink of another Masters disappointment, Rory McIlroy produced one of the most unforgettable shots of his career on the par-4 17th hole. With Justin Rose already in the clubhouse at 11 under, McIlroy needed a birdie on one of the final two holes to avoid a sudden-death playoff.
After a 248-yard drive down the right side of the fairway, McIlroy struck an iron shot and urged it forward, shouting, “Go, go, go!” The ball landed on the green and rolled to just 2 feet from the hole. He calmly sank the birdie putt to move to 12 under, taking a one-stroke lead over Rose. It seemed like victory was within reach—until McIlroy missed a short par putt on the 18th, sending the tournament into a playoff.
This victory marked McIlroy’s fifth major championship and his first in over a decade. He previously won the 2011 U.S. Open, the 2012 and 2014 PGA Championships, and the 2014 Open Championship.
McIlroy had started Sunday with a two-stroke lead and made the turn at 13 under after a solid front nine. However, trouble struck at Augusta National’s Amen Corner. On the par-4 11th, his approach nearly found water but stopped on the bank. He chipped to 10 feet but missed the par putt, dropping to 13 under. After parring the 12th, disaster unfolded on the par-5 13th when McIlroy laid up but hit a poor wedge shot into Rae’s Creek. The resulting double bogey cut his lead over Rose to just one stroke.
The struggles continued on the par-4 14th when McIlroy pushed his tee shot into the trees and failed to save par after chipping short of the green. Another bogey dropped him to 10 under, tying him with Rose and Ludvig Åberg.
Despite these setbacks—and becoming the first Masters champion to record four double bogeys in a single tournament—McIlroy showed resilience in reclaiming his lead with clutch play down the stretch, setting up his eventual playoff triumph over Rose.
