Rory McIlroy etched his name into golf history on Sunday, capturing his first Masters title and completing the career Grand Slam after a dramatic playoff victory over Justin Rose at Augusta National.

The Northern Irishman, after 14 years of near-misses, sealed the win by sinking a short birdie putt on the first extra hole. 

He had narrowly missed the chance to clinch the title in regulation play, failing to convert a par putt on the 18th. But in the playoff, McIlroy held his nerve while Rose came up short.

Overcome with emotion, McIlroy dropped to his knees in tears after the winning stroke, his long-awaited moment finally a reality.

“It’s been 14 years coming,” he said, referencing his heartbreaking collapse at the 2011 Masters, where he squandered a four-shot lead in the final round. “All those years, all the close calls—it’s all been worth it for this.”

Last year’s champion, Scottie Scheffler, helped him into the coveted Green Jacket as McIlroy fought back tears. “Sending love to mum and dad back in Northern Ireland,” he added. “I can't wait to celebrate this with them.”

With victories in the US Open, The Open, and two PGA Championships already under his belt by 2014, this long-sought Masters win completes McIlroy’s set of major titles. He now becomes the sixth golfer in history—and the first European—to achieve the Grand Slam, joining legends such as Tiger Woods, Jack Nicklaus, Ben Hogan, Gene Sarazen, and Gary Player.

For Justin Rose, it was a familiar heartbreak. The Englishman, 44, bounced back from a disappointing Saturday round to force the playoff but fell short once again, echoing his 2017 loss to Sergio Garcia. Still, his spirited performance earned widespread respect.

Source: BBC

BDST: 1030 HRS, APR 14, 2025
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