Given the number of near-misses Rory McIlroy endured during an 11-year major drought, the drama of his Masters breakthrough was hardly unexpected. Last year’s historic play-off at Augusta National saw McIlroy join the tiny, elite group of players to complete golf’s career Grand Slam.
His elusive fifth major arrived 14 years after his 2011 US Open breakthrough and some 3,899 days — and 21 major top-10s — on from his 2014 PGA Championship win. For those who watched that memorable Sunday, the wait was worth it.
Both Jack Nicklaus and Gary Player had flagged McIlroy as a favourite on the opening day. Yet the week began shakily: McIlroy double-bogeyed three of his final four holes to post a 72. Facing a seven-shot deficit after round one, he answered with a round-of-the-day 66 on Friday to make a comeback realistic.
Momentum accelerated in round three. McIlroy made history by opening with six consecutive threes and, despite a couple of bogeys around the turn, produced a brilliant eagle at the par-five 15th to card another 66 and take a two-shot 54-hole lead — the first time he’d led at that stage at Augusta since 2011. “I just have to keep reminding myself that no matter what situation or scenario I find myself in tomorrow, I’ll be able to handle it,” he said after the round.
The final round began in turmoil. McIlroy’s overnight lead evaporated at the first hole when a fairway bunker lay-up led to a chip-and-three-putt double-bogey. Bryson DeChambeau and others moved into contention, but the lead seesawed. McIlroy responded with birdies, including a remarkable recovery from the trees at seven that left him laughing in disbelief. “Anytime I hit it in the trees this week, I had a gap,” he reflected, admitting he ignored his caddie Harry Diamond’s advice and went for the risky shot.
He steadied with birdies at nine and 10, and a nervy escape at 11 when a low-running pitch nearly found the water. The tournament swung again at the par-five 13th: opting to lay up, McIlroy’s wedge from under 90 yards found Rae’s Creek and produced his fourth double-bogey of the week. A bogey at 14 followed, leaving him one behind with four to play.
Then came one of the tournament’s iconic moments. At the par-five 15th, a seven-iron from well off the fairway flew around trees and sat within eight feet of the flag. He two-putted for birdie, then added another at 17 to stand on the 72nd tee with a one-shot lead. A perfect drive left him with a wedge into the green, but his approach found sand and he failed to get up-and-down. A missed five-foot putt for victory and a closing bogey left McIlroy tied with Justin Rose at 11 under, forcing a play-off. “After scoring, Harry and I were walking to the golf cart… he said to me, ‘well, pal, we would have taken this on Monday morning’,” McIlroy said. “That was an easy reset.”
On the first extra hole, McIlroy repeated his 72nd-tee tee-shot and then hit a perfect wedge to within four feet. Rose’s birdie attempt slid by, and McIlroy rolled in his putt, sinking to the floor in emotion. “It’s the best day of my golfing life,” he said afterwards. “I’m very proud of myself. I’m proud of never giving up. I’m proud of how I kept coming back and dusting myself off and not letting the disappointments really get to me.”
His victory made him only the second new member of the career Grand Slam club in 59 years and the first since Tiger Woods in 2000, placing McIlroy alongside Woods, Jack Nicklaus, Gary Player, Ben Hogan and Gene Sarazen. Woods — absent from the Champions Dinner and this year’s Masters — texted McIlroy: “Welcome to the club, kid.”
Looking ahead, McIlroy returns to Augusta as defending champion with further milestones in view. Only Jack Nicklaus, Sir Nick Faldo and Tiger Woods have successfully defended the Green Jacket; McIlroy has the chance to join that exclusive trio. A successful defence would also bring his PGA Tour win tally to 30, tying Faldo’s six majors as the most by a European in the modern era and further cementing his place among the sport’s greats.
Expectations will remain high. His 2025 Masters win will be remembered for generations; if this year’s contest offers even a fraction of last year’s excitement, it promises to be a classic.
Who will win The Masters? Watch the opening men’s major live from April 9-12 on Sky Sports. Live coverage begins Thursday from 2pm on Sky Sports Golf.