Daijiworld Media Network- Augusta
Augusta, Apr 15: Golfing star Rory McIlroy etched his name into the annals of golf history on Sunday, April 14, as he finally triumphed at the Masters, completing the elusive career Grand Slam with a dramatic playoff victory over Justin Rose at Augusta National.
The 35-year-old Northern Irishman, who had long been chasing the only missing Major from his trophy cabinet, sealed the win with a sensational birdie on the first hole of sudden death, putting an end to over a decade of near-misses and heartbreaks.
The drama unfolded after McIlroy missed a five-foot par putt on the 18th in regulation play, which allowed Rose—playing several groups ahead—to catch up. But McIlroy, known for his steely nerves and clutch performances, returned to the same hole during the playoff and landed his approach a mere two feet from the cup, this time making no mistake with the putt.
As the ball dropped, an emotional McIlroy collapsed to his knees, his arms raised skyward in triumph. He then shared a heartwarming embrace with his wife Erica and daughter Poppy, as chants of "Rory! Rory!" echoed around Augusta's hallowed greens.
“There was a lot of pent-up emotion that just came out on that 18th green,” McIlroy said during the Green Jacket ceremony at Butler Cabin. “A moment like that makes all the years and all the close calls worth it.”
With this victory, McIlroy joins golf legends Gene Sarazen, Ben Hogan, Gary Player, Jack Nicklaus, and Tiger Woods as the only players to win all four Major championships. He also becomes the first European golfer to achieve this rare feat.
The win was particularly sweet given McIlroy’s painful history at Augusta, where he famously squandered a four-shot lead in 2011 on the back nine. Arriving this year without a Major since 2014, many wondered if the Grand Slam dream was slipping away.
The final round was a nail-biter, with the leaderboard constantly shifting. After holding a four-shot lead at the turn, McIlroy faltered briefly but made a stunning comeback with two of the most brilliant shots of his career.
At the par-five 15th, he executed a daring draw that skirted around branches and flew over water to land just six feet from the pin. Although he missed the eagle putt, a birdie took him one clear of Rose. After Rose sunk a 20-foot birdie at the 18th to tie, McIlroy responded with a majestic iron at the 17th that left him another tap-in birdie chance.
Despite a missed opportunity to clinch the title in regulation, McIlroy held his nerve when it mattered most, finally exorcising his Augusta demons.
“This is my 17th time here, and I started to wonder if it would ever be my time,” he admitted. “The burden of the Grand Slam has been heavy... but now I guess we’ll have to find something new to talk about next year.”
Meanwhile, it was yet another close call for England’s Justin Rose, who has now finished second at the Masters for the third time, following similar heartbreak in 2015 and a playoff loss to Sergio Garcia in 2017.
But for McIlroy, the long-awaited Green Jacket now rests on his shoulders — a fitting reward for perseverance, passion, and pure talent.