The Masters concluded with a tie among two players, resulting in a playoff.
The final individual remaining became part of a select group of men.
Following an inconsistent Sunday that included a bogey on the final hole, Rory McIlroy defeated Justin Rose in the first playoff hole to secure his first Masters Tournament victory and achieve the career Grand Slam.
“It feels incredible,” McIlroy said. “I started to wonder if it would ever be my time, the last ten years coming here with the burden of the Grand Slam on my shoulders and trying to achieve that, makes me wonder what we are going to talk about going into next year’s Masters.”
Rose, competing for his first green jacket, finished in second place, followed by Patrick Reed in third and Scottie Scheffler in fourth.
Justin Rose concluded his final round with a 66, including an impressive long birdie putt on the 72nd hole, which brought him into a tie for the lead. However, Rory McIlroy secured the victory by making his birdie putt on the first playoff hole, while Rose missed his attempt, resulting in McIlroy winning the Masters.
“Today was an unbelievable round of golf,” Rose said. “Today I began to feel that confidence come back with that came a few mistakes here and there. To make the putt on 18, the one you dream about as a kid to give myself an opportunity and a chance was an unbelievable feeling.”
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McIlroy joins an elite group of golfers—alongside Gene Sarazen, Ben Hogan, Gary Player, Jack Nicklaus, and Tiger Woods—as one of the few to win all four major championships during the Masters era.
“How I responded to set backs that is what I will take from this week,” McIlroy said. “I couldn’t be proud of myself for that being able to bounce back when I needed to.”
McIlroy began the final round with a two-stroke lead over Bryson DeChambeau, but that advantage was quickly diminished. He recorded a double bogey on the first hole, resulting in a tie, as the large gallery surrounding the green fell silent. On his way to the second tee, he recalled that 2023 Masters champion Jon Rahm had also recovered from an opening-hole double bogey in that year’s tournament and ultimately shot a 65.
McIlroy expressed his emotions by tossing his putter into the air and then bowed his head in disappointment. He temporarily knelt to gather himself and shared a moment of camaraderie with his caddie, Harry Diamond.
“There was a lot of pent-up emotion that just came out on that 18th green,” McIlroy said. “A moment like that makes all the years, all the close calls worth it.”
It was McIlroy’s 11th attempt to complete the career Grand Slam, the most among players who have achieved it. For a period on Sunday, it appeared he would need to wait another year after he lost a four-stroke lead during an exciting second nine.
This marks Rory McIlroy’s fifth major championship victory and his first in over a decade. His previous major titles include the 2011 U.S. Open, the 2012 and 2014 PGA Championships, and the 2014 Open Championship.
LIV Golf’s Patrick Reed, the 2018 Masters champion, finished in third place with a score of 9 under par, posting a 3-under 69 on Sunday. World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler, who was aiming to secure his third green jacket in four years, finished fourth at 8 under par after also shooting a 69. Bryson DeChambeau (75) and Sungjae Im (69) tied for fifth place, each finishing at 7 under par.
Photos/TheMasters/X
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