Rory McIlroy admitted he won a “battle with himself” after clinching the career Grand Slam on a nerve-shredding final day at The Masters.
The Ulsterman edged out Justin Rose on the first playoff hole with a brilliant birdie to clinch his first major trophy since 2014 and become just the sixth man in history to win all four.
It was far from straightforward, however.
Needing a par on the last for victory, he dumped his approach shot into a green side bunker and then failed to hole a relatively routine putt as the scars of so many near misses over recent years threatened to defy him once again.
Twenty minutes later, he sank a shorter effort on the same green to pip Rose, sinking to his knees in an outpouring of emotion.
“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.”
A storybook ending to a lifelong pursuit.
Rory McIlroy is the 2025 Masters champion and one of six players to ever capture the career Grand Slam. #themasters pic.twitter.com/iax1WllciF
— The Masters (@TheMasters) April 14, 2025
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Nerves shredded as McIlroy fails to hold off charging Rose
McIlroy held a six-shot lead with eight holes to play but failed to hold off the challenge of the charging Rose.
Not that he was helping himself. A woeful wedge into the 13th bounced twice on the front edge of the green before rolling back into the water, resulting in a double-bogey seven.
A hole later and his lead had evaporated as another bogey saw him drop into a three-way tie for the lead with Rose and Sweden’s Ludvig Aberg.
“There were points on the back nine today when I thought, ‘Have I let it slip again?'” McIlroy said. “My battle today was with myself. It wasn’t with anyone else.”
A birdie on 17 looked to have steadied the ship only for the wobble on 18 to take him to a 73rd hole.
“It’s the best day of my golfing life,” he said when wearing the Green Jacket. “I’ve literally made my dreams come true.”
Tiger Woods sends message to McIlroy
Tiger Woods was quick to offer his congratulations to McIlroy.
He wrote on X: “Welcome to the club Rory McIlroy. 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!”
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
The groundswell of support for McIlroy was a touch harsh on Rose, who contributed hugely to an afternoon of incredible drama.
The Englishman had 10 birdies in his final round – including a stunning 25-foot putt on 18 that added to McIlroy’s nerves.
His frustration that it slipped away so quickly despite a par in the first playoff hole was evident.
“The playoff, they always end so quickly,” he said. “You know, that’s sudden death. You don’t really get an opportunity. If you’re not the guy to hit the great shot or hole the great putt, it’s over. But not really anything I could have done more today.”
