Masters 2025 winner Rory McIlroy who also completed the career grand slam, celebrates as he is helped into his Green Jacket by 2024 champion and world number one Scottie Scheffler, at Augusta, Georgia, on Sunday. Image courtesy PGA Tour/Getty Images.
By Rahul Banerji
Rory McIlroy completed his career grand slam in an emotionally draining and physically gruelling final day of the 2025 Masters at Augusta on Sunday to seal his place in the galaxy of the game’s greats.
The 35-year-old Northern Irishman outlasted England’s Justin Rose with a first playoff hole birdie after they had finished the regulation 72 holes locked together at 11 under par 277 at Augusta National.
It then needed a precise approach and four-foot birdie putt from McIlroy (72-66-66-73) to complete his set of majors, the Masters coming 11 years after he had won the PGA Championship, and was his fifth major title in all.
It was also a 29th career PGA Tour victory for McIlroy barely three weeks before he turns 36 and put him alongside Gene Sarazen, Ben Hogan, Gary Player, Jack Nicklaus and Tiger Woods as a member of the grand slam club.
Rose (65-71-75-66) played his way into contention around Amen Corner, picking up shots on all three holes while bringing in the day’s joint best card of 6 under par and keeping relentless pressure on McIlroy.
A 16-foot birdie putt by Rise in the playoff was just off target, while McIlroy converted his opportunity from less than five feet to seal the title, and his second playoff win of the year.
Popular win
Tweeted three-time Masters champion Player, “I want to extend my heartfelt congratulations to Rory McIlroy on his historic win at the Masters and completion of the career Grand Slam.
“The drama of today capped off with his playoff victory was simply meant to be. I would be remiss if I didn’t mention my admiration for Justin Rose, who embodies the true spirit of a gentleman in our game.”
Added the exhausted McIlroy shortly after receiving his Green Jacket from defending champion Scottie Scheffler, “Just a complete roller coaster of emotions today.
“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.
“It’s a dream come true. 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.
Tough day
“I was nervous. It was one of the toughest days I’ve ever had on the golf course,” said McIlroy, whose other majors include the 2011 US Open, the 2012 PGA Championship, the 2014 Open Championship and the 2014 PGA Championship.
The Northern Irishman, who arrived at Augusta National on the back of two victories this season, signed for a closing 73 which included two double bogeys and a closing bogey in regulation.
McIlroy made it hard for himself through the day. His overnight two-shot lead evaporated on the very first hole to playing partner Bryson DeChambeau but the world no. 2 fought back with four birdies to seemingly take control of the tournament.
Another nervous stretch followed when he dropped a further four shots including a double on the par-5 13th hole with a wedge in hand. McIlroy though fought back once again with two wonderful birdies on holes 15 and 17.
There was one remaining twist. With a one-shot lead coming to hole 18, McIlroy had a 5-foot par putt for the win but missed to allow Rose back into contention.
Shrugging off the disappointment, a precise wedge approach to four feet in the first extra hole sealed the deal for McIlroy as Rose, who had charged into contention with a 66, just missed his own birdie chance earlier from 16 feet.
McIlroy in fact was made to fight though the day. He saw an overnight two-shot lead over DeChambeau evaporate on the first hole which he double-bogeyed. He though fought back brilliantly with four birdies to seemingly take control of the tournament again.
Another wobble
McIlroy then dropped four shots over the next four holes, including a double on the par-5 13th hole before fighting back once again with birdies on the 15th and 17th holes.
With a one-shot lead, this time over Rose on the final regulation hole of the Masters, McIlroy had a 5-foot par putt for the win but missed.
Both were 11 under par 277 for the tournament, two shots ahead of Patrick Reed (71-70-69-69, 9 under 279) and three in front of world number one and defending champion Scottie Scheffler (68-71-72-69, 8 under 280).
For Rose, it was a third Masters disappointment in 20 starts. On Sunday he joined Ben Hogan (1942, 1954) as the second player in Masters history to lose in a playoff twice after an earlier defeat by Sergio Garcia in 2017. In 2015, Rose was tied for second behind Jordan Speith.
Behind the top four, DeChambeau and Sungjae Im shared fifth place on 7 under 281, Im bringing in his third top-10 at the Masters Tournament.
The 27-year-old Im posted a closing 3 under 69 on a memorable Sunday at Augusta National to finish as the leading Asian golfer four shots back of McIlroy.
Matching feat
Im has now matched Korean trailblazer K.J. Choi who also has three career top 10s at the Masters, a run which has given him added fuel to keep dreaming of winning the prestigious tournament in the near future.
“It was a good week and finishing top-5, it shows that I’m able to compete here,” said Im, who was runner-up in 2020 and T8 in 2022.
“The golf course is so difficult and I managed to play well and keep the mistakes to a minimum. I really love coming back to play here and look forward to next year and having another go again.
“Rory made his dream come true today and hopefully my time will come one day. I can only keep working hard to get better.”
Japan’s Hideki Matsuyama, the 2021 Masters champion, shot the joint low round of 66 to finish T21 alongside another Korean, Byeong Hun An who had a final round 71.
Hero MotoCorp’s Indian-American ambassadors Sahith Theegala and Akshay Bhatia finished T28 and T42 respectively.
Also read: Hero signs PGA Tour’s Bhatia, Theegala as global ambassadors
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