Rory McIlroy achieved sporting immortality today, joining golfing greats Gene Sarazen, Ben Hogan, Gary Player, Jack Nicklaus and Tiger Woods in completing the career grand slam with his dramatic sudden death Masters play-off victory over Justin Rose.
But it would not be McIlroy without putting his supportersthrough the wringer.
Holding a commanding four-shot lead over the field as he left the 10th, McIlroy’s closing holes were a roller-coaster of emotion as he battled his nerves as well as his rivals.
Telegraph Sport looks at how McIlroy finally ended 14 years of hurt.
Rory McIlroy arrives on the 11th tee with a bounce in his step, having just nailed successive birdies to move to -14. His lead is four shots over Justin Rose, who has himself just moved to -10 up ahead on 13. Comfortable. But McIlroy makes a complete hash of the par four, finding himself behind the trees off the tee. A low punch very nearly finds the water, but the golfing gods delay that particular agony. McIlroy’s chip is short and he misses his par putt. But with Bryson DeChambeau finding the water to make double and Justin Rose also bogeying 14 up ahead, the four-shot lead stays intact.
McIlroy -13, Rose -9, DeChambeau -9
Hole 12
McIlroy safely navigates the notorious par three, finding the back of the green and two-putting for par. But three holes ahead of him, Rose drains a birdie to cut McIlroy’s lead to three shots.
McIlroy takes the sensible option (drawing admiring coos from Sir Nick Faldo and Wayne Riley on commentary), laying up on the par five and leaving himself a nice easy chip into the green. Anything left will do with the ball feeding down to the hole. But McIlroy makes a horrendous mistake with his approach, going right, and watches his ball roll into Rae’s Creek off the bank. Takes a penalty drop, chips past the hole, and then misses his bogey putt coming back. It is a three-shot swing with Rose birdieing shortly after to tie McIlroy at the top of the leaderboard. Another bogey for DeChambeau ends his challenge.
McIlroy -11, Rose -11, DeChambeau -7
Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland plays a shot on the first hole during the final round of the 2025 Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club. Photo / Getty Images
Hole 14
For the first time all day, McIlroy loses the lead of the tournament, pushing his tee shot right and finding the pine straw. His approach leaves him short of the green and his chip leaves a tricky downhill right-to-left putt, which hangs on to the edge of the hole but obstinately refuses to drop. Another name emerges towards the top of the leaderboard, as Ludvig Aberg joins McIlroy on -10.
Rose -11, McIlroy -10, Aberg -10
Hole 15
The comeback begins. A huge drive kicks left towards the pine trees and McIlroy appears to be blocked from going to the green. But from 209 yards he draws a magnificent seven-iron around the branches to just six feet. McIlroy misses out on the eagle with a nervous-looking putt which he pulls. But retakes the lead with a birdie after Rose bogeys 17.
McIlroy -11, Rose -10, Aberg -10
Hole 16
A fine tee shot finds the top ledge of the tricky green and rolls towards the hole to set up a nine-foot birdie chance, which somehow finishes behind the hole. Rose meanwhile leaves roars echoing on 18 after rolling in a 20-footer to post the clubhouse lead at -11. A bogey on 17 sees Aberg drop back, with a double at the final hole dropping him to seventh.
McIlroy -11, Rose -11, Aberg -9
Hole 17
McIlroy plumps for a three-wood off the tee to keep it in play and lands on the upslope, 197 yards from the pin. Hits another sensational seven-iron which will be replayed for years to come, McIlroy walking after his ball screaming “GO, GO”. His ball obliges, landing on the dancefloor and stopping two feet from the hole. The Northern Irishman is made to wait for his birdie attempt as playing partner DeChambeau has to tidy up. And you can feel the nervous tension as he steps away from his ball after lining up. But McIlroy recomposes himself to sink it and takes a one-shot lead to 18.
It is never straightforward with McIlroy. Needing a par to complete the career grand slam and win his first ever Masters, McIlroy crashes his tee shot up the fairway but then misses the green with his approach, blocking it right into a bunker. Splashes out to four feet to leave himself a knee-knocker to claim the the title, only to miss and head to a play-off.
McIlroy -11, Rose -11
Hole 18 - Playoff
Rose has the honour and fires his drive into the perfect position. McIlroy follows suit with a carbon copy of what he hit a few minutes earlier. Rose piles on the pressure with a pin-point approach to leave just 15 feet for birdie. McIlroy tops it, playing a high wedge which rolls back off the slope and nestles just three feet from the hole. Rose misses his birdie putt right, leaving McIlroy with a second short putt in the space of minutes to win the Green Jacket. This time he makes no mistake, throwing his putter in the air and sinking to his knees.
Rory McIlroy celebrates winning the 2025 Masters Tournament after the first playoff hole on the 18th green at Augusta National Golf Club. Photo / Getty Images
