Rory McIlroy sunk the putt then sunk to his knees, let out a roar and, after slipping into the green jacket, asked a question. “What are we all going to talk about next year?” It took the Northern Irishman 11 goes, but finally he’d done it. A Masters win, after a Sunday of perhaps unrivalled back-nine Augusta National drama, cemented the first men’s golf career grand slam since Tiger Woods completed the set of all four major titles in 2000.
McIlroy’s moment. #themasters pic.twitter.com/ii5NCjvLmA
— The Masters (@TheMasters) April 13, 2025
McIlroy, the first European in what’s now a six-man club, sealed his 29th PGA Tour title and at age 35 is suddenly free of burden, and needing just two more to enter the top-10 for all-time major wins.
The 35-year-old was 24 when he won his fourth and previous major and was only 21 when he let a four-shot lead on the back nine slip at Augusta. Having led by the same margin, he rose from the canvas after bombing the 13th with a shattering fourth double bogey of the tournament – a record for any winner – to see off the charging Justin Rose in a playoff.
Soak it in. #themasters pic.twitter.com/xKVyCGuAh7
— The Masters (@TheMasters) April 13, 2025
McIlroy had blinked at last year’s US Open and watched Cameron Smith fly by at the 2022 British Open, just two of many near-misses in majors since his last title in 2014.
The Northern Irishman (11 under, 72, 66, 66, 73) was four shots clear through 10 holes but, as he did 14 years ago at Augusta National, stumbled with five dropped shots as Rose (65, 71, 75, 66) surged to finish level. Brilliant approaches to the 15th and 17th gained McIlroy strokes, and he was on the fairway on the 18th needing just a par to join a club comprising only Woods, Gene Sarazen, Ben Hogan, Gary Player and Jack Nicklaus. His wedge found sand and the par putt missed but on the first playoff hole, McIlroy nailed his approach to within four feet, then made the putt to end a day of theatre with tears of joy and consign Rose to a third runner-up placing.
Consecutive 66s, including the best start to a round in Masters history on Saturday, helped offset an opening 72 and put McIlroy alongside Nick Faldo and Woods in overcoming a seven-shot deficit after 18 holes to win. “I’d like to start this press conference with a question myself. What are we all going to talk about next year?,” McIlroy posed to journalists after more than a decade of enduring the career slam narrative.”I have dreamt about that moment for as long as I can remember. “There were points in my career where I didn’t know if I would have this nice garment over my shoulders, but I didn’t make it easy today.
“I’ve carried that burden since August, 2014.
“What came out of me on the last green there in the playoff was at least 11 years, if not 14 years of pent-up emotion.” Steady Australian Jason Day dropped shots on the last two holes to finish in a tie for eighth at five under. But his total of five bogeys for the tournament was the least of all players by three. English veteran Rose fell just short of executing the second-biggest Masters comeback after starting the final day seven shots behind.
The former world No.1, US Open and Olympic champion, joins Greg Norman as a three-time Masters runner-up and Ben Hogan as the only loser of multiple playoffs, after his 2017 defeat to Sergio Garcia.
Min Woo Lee, Australia’s only other cut survivor, was two over on Sunday to finish six over for the tournament in 49th.
CAREER GOLF GRAND SLAMS (when they won each for the first time)
* Gene Sarazen – US Open (1922), PGA Championship (1922), The Open Championship (1932), Masters (1935)
* Ben Hogan – PGA Championship (1946), US Open (1948), Masters (1951), The Open Championship (1953)
* Gary Player – The Open Championship (1959), Masters (1961), PGA Championship (1962), US Open (1965)
* Jack Nicklaus – US Open (1962), Masters (1963), PGA Championship (1963), The Open Championship (1966)
* Tiger Woods – Masters (1997), PGA Championship (1999), US Open (2000), Open Championship (2000)
* Rory McIlroy – US Open (2011), PGA Championship (2012), The Open Championship (2014), Masters (2025)