Rory McIlroy has cemented his place on golf’s Mount Rushmore, capturing the 2025 Masters title and completing the career Grand Slam in dramatic fashion. After a terrible wedge shot and a missed putt on the 72nd hole of the tournament, McIlroy fought back with a birdie on the 18th hole in a playoff against Justin Rose. McIlroy earned his long-awaited Green Jacket.

Just six male golfers in history to win all four major championships, and Rory is now among them. Others include Tiger Woods, Jack Nicklaus, Gary Player, Gene Sarazen, and Ben Hogan.

Winning the Masters on Sunday meant McIlroy earned his first major win since 2014. It was his 11th attempt to get the grand slam in golf, and the pressure on his shoulders was immense. The win ended a decade-long drought and solidified his legacy.

He also became the first man from Northern Ireland—and the entire island of Ireland—to win the Masters.

The Final Round of the Masters Was Pure Cinema

Every emotional moment was brilliantly captured, including when McIlroy was overcome with feelings on the green after making a 3-foot putt to win. He was embraced by Rose, who gave him all the time he needed to soak in the championship-winning putt at Augusta National. McIlroy then hugged countless people and made the walk to the clubhouse, where he would meet Scottie Scheffler, last year’s champion at Butler Cabin, to get his jacket.

Tiger Woods, himself a Grand Slam winner, praised McIlroy’s perseverance and determination, calling his achievement “well-deserved.”

The tournament also had its share of drama. Bryson DeChambeau was in the final pair with McIlroy and finished four shots behind, essentially having one of his worst days when it mattered most. He said after the round that he didn’t know how McIlroy was doing throughout the day as the new champion wouldn’t speak to him all afternoon or during the final round.

Still, nothing could overshadow the significance of McIlroy’s win. McIlroy has finally achieved what some worried he might never achieve. Now, do the floodgates open, and he goes on another run? Or, with this checked off his bucket list, is there room for another golfer to compete for a grand slam?

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