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AUGUSTA, Ga. — The tears started flowing as soon as Rory McIlroy threw his hands in the air, tossed his putter and fell to his knees.
What followed was one of the most visible displays of emotion you will find on a golf course.
McIlroy slammed his cap, buried his head into the green. Body trembling, he buried his face into the shoulder of his caddie, Harry Diamond, and, of course, had a long embrace with his wife, Erica, and daughter, Poppy.
In between looking up to the heavens with his hands over his head.
Disbelief? Perhaps. Relief? Without question.
"That was all relief," McIlroy said after winning his first Masters and completing the career grand slam, a quest 11 years in the making.
"It was a decade-plus of emotion that came out of me there."
McIlroy needed 73 roller-coaster holes, but it doesn't matter now. By winning his first Masters, the Jupiter resident is part of golf's most exclusive club: Gene Sarazen, Ben Hogan, Gary Player, Jack Nicklaus and Tiger Woods were the only golfers to complete the career grand slam.
Add the name Rory McIlroy to that list.
Finally, after 3,899 days and 183 PGA Tour starts since his last major, the 2014 PGA Championship, McIlroy flipped the narrative on his career.
"I think I've carried that burden since August 2014. It's nearly 11 years," McIlroy said. "And not just about winning my next major, but the career grand slam … trying to join a group of five players to do it (and) watching a lot of my peers get green jackets in the process.
"Yeah, it's been difficult. And I've tried to approach this tournament with the most positive attitude each and every time that I've shown up."
This after McIlroy, wearing the 38-regular green jacket placed on him by world No. 1 and 2024 Masters champion Scottie Scheffler, walked into his post match meeting with the press and said:
"I'd like to start this press conference with a question myself, 'What are we all going to talk about next year?' "
McIlroy's 73, which came of the heels of a pair to 66s in the middle two rounds, allowed a sizzling Justin Rose to overcome a 7-shot deficit at the start of Sunday's final round and force a sudden-death playoff.
An Englishman and a Northern Irishman. Ryder Cup teammates. Two former world No. 1s. Each seeking his first green jacket.
"Something happened, for sure, around the middle of the round," said Rose, who finished with a 66 after 32 on the back nine in which he had one par and six birdies, including No. 18.
"I just kind of went into the place that you dream about going to. I felt so good with my game. Felt so good with my mind. I began to sense that I was playing my way into the tournament. I was laser focused out there."
While it can be said Rory gave away the chance to win in regulation, it is equally true he took this tournament in the playoff on the same hole, No. 18, that caused such heartbreak just minutes earlier. He had some wondering if it would forever scar the now five-time major champion.
"It's such a battle in your head of trying to stay in the present moment and hit this next shot good and hit the next shot good," McIlroy said. "That was the battle today. My battle today was with myself. It wasn't with anyone else.
"I didn't make it easy today."
McIlroy's final crucial approach shot — and there were many — was the most important, sticking a gap wedge from 125 feet to 4 feet on the 18th in the playoff, after Rose left himself with a 15-footer from 157.
Rose slid his putt 2 inches to the right. Rory left no doubt, overcoming the memory of the missed potential winning 5-footer on the 72 hole.
"Just a complete roller coaster of a day," McIlroy said. "Just really proud of how I bounced back from the double on 1, from the double on 13."
This was supposed to be a showdown between McIlroy and LIV Golf's biggest brand, Bryson DeChambeau. But even that took a few twists and turns in just three holes after McIlroy started the day with a double bogey.
But after McIlroy frittered away a 2-shot lead to start the round, he regained it just as quickly.
Although he played a round that felt at times like a 65 and at times like a 78, it can be argued this tournament was won by the way McIlroy overcame that double-bogey on the first hole.
McIlroy stepped to that tee box admittedly with a "knot" in his stomach, legs that felt "a little jelly-like," and on a day in which he had little appetite and had to force down food.
"I was unbelievable nervous this morning, really nervous on the first hole," he said.
"It's such a battle in your head of trying to stay in the present moment and hit this next shot good and hit the next shot good. That was the battle today. My battle today was with myself … with my mind and staying in the present. It was a struggle but I got over the line."
What followed after McIlroy settled down was pure theater. First he built a lead with birdies on holes nine and 10 (actually leading by 5 shots for a brief time). Then, he allowed Rose and Ludvig Aberg back in going 4-over in four holes, including a double bogey on No. 13 when his approach from 82 yards found the water.
After a birdie on No. 17, that missed 5-foot putt on the 72nd hole forced the playoff with Rose, who had hit the range.
Then, McIlroy found that one shot that made those 11 years worth the wait.
"It's the best day of my golfing life," McIlroy said. "And yeah, I'm very proud of myself. I'm proud of never giving up. I'm proud of how I kept coming back and dusting myself off and not letting the disappointments really get to me.
"It's a dream come true."
Tom D'Angelo is a senior sports columnist and reporter for The Palm Beach Post. He can be reached at [email protected].
This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Rory McIlroy gets career grand slam at Masters defeating Justin Rose in playoff
Continue reading...
What followed was one of the most visible displays of emotion you will find on a golf course.
McIlroy slammed his cap, buried his head into the green. Body trembling, he buried his face into the shoulder of his caddie, Harry Diamond, and, of course, had a long embrace with his wife, Erica, and daughter, Poppy.
In between looking up to the heavens with his hands over his head.
Disbelief? Perhaps. Relief? Without question.
"That was all relief," McIlroy said after winning his first Masters and completing the career grand slam, a quest 11 years in the making.
"It was a decade-plus of emotion that came out of me there."
McIlroy needed 73 roller-coaster holes, but it doesn't matter now. By winning his first Masters, the Jupiter resident is part of golf's most exclusive club: Gene Sarazen, Ben Hogan, Gary Player, Jack Nicklaus and Tiger Woods were the only golfers to complete the career grand slam.
Add the name Rory McIlroy to that list.
Finally, after 3,899 days and 183 PGA Tour starts since his last major, the 2014 PGA Championship, McIlroy flipped the narrative on his career.
"I think I've carried that burden since August 2014. It's nearly 11 years," McIlroy said. "And not just about winning my next major, but the career grand slam … trying to join a group of five players to do it (and) watching a lot of my peers get green jackets in the process.
"Yeah, it's been difficult. And I've tried to approach this tournament with the most positive attitude each and every time that I've shown up."
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This after McIlroy, wearing the 38-regular green jacket placed on him by world No. 1 and 2024 Masters champion Scottie Scheffler, walked into his post match meeting with the press and said:
"I'd like to start this press conference with a question myself, 'What are we all going to talk about next year?' "
Rory giveth, then taketh away on No. 18
McIlroy's 73, which came of the heels of a pair to 66s in the middle two rounds, allowed a sizzling Justin Rose to overcome a 7-shot deficit at the start of Sunday's final round and force a sudden-death playoff.
An Englishman and a Northern Irishman. Ryder Cup teammates. Two former world No. 1s. Each seeking his first green jacket.
"Something happened, for sure, around the middle of the round," said Rose, who finished with a 66 after 32 on the back nine in which he had one par and six birdies, including No. 18.
"I just kind of went into the place that you dream about going to. I felt so good with my game. Felt so good with my mind. I began to sense that I was playing my way into the tournament. I was laser focused out there."
While it can be said Rory gave away the chance to win in regulation, it is equally true he took this tournament in the playoff on the same hole, No. 18, that caused such heartbreak just minutes earlier. He had some wondering if it would forever scar the now five-time major champion.
"It's such a battle in your head of trying to stay in the present moment and hit this next shot good and hit the next shot good," McIlroy said. "That was the battle today. My battle today was with myself. It wasn't with anyone else.
"I didn't make it easy today."
McIlroy's final crucial approach shot — and there were many — was the most important, sticking a gap wedge from 125 feet to 4 feet on the 18th in the playoff, after Rose left himself with a 15-footer from 157.
Rose slid his putt 2 inches to the right. Rory left no doubt, overcoming the memory of the missed potential winning 5-footer on the 72 hole.
"Just a complete roller coaster of a day," McIlroy said. "Just really proud of how I bounced back from the double on 1, from the double on 13."
Showdown with DeChambeau never materialized
This was supposed to be a showdown between McIlroy and LIV Golf's biggest brand, Bryson DeChambeau. But even that took a few twists and turns in just three holes after McIlroy started the day with a double bogey.
But after McIlroy frittered away a 2-shot lead to start the round, he regained it just as quickly.
Although he played a round that felt at times like a 65 and at times like a 78, it can be argued this tournament was won by the way McIlroy overcame that double-bogey on the first hole.
McIlroy stepped to that tee box admittedly with a "knot" in his stomach, legs that felt "a little jelly-like," and on a day in which he had little appetite and had to force down food.
"I was unbelievable nervous this morning, really nervous on the first hole," he said.
"It's such a battle in your head of trying to stay in the present moment and hit this next shot good and hit the next shot good. That was the battle today. My battle today was with myself … with my mind and staying in the present. It was a struggle but I got over the line."
You must be registered for see images
What followed after McIlroy settled down was pure theater. First he built a lead with birdies on holes nine and 10 (actually leading by 5 shots for a brief time). Then, he allowed Rose and Ludvig Aberg back in going 4-over in four holes, including a double bogey on No. 13 when his approach from 82 yards found the water.
After a birdie on No. 17, that missed 5-foot putt on the 72nd hole forced the playoff with Rose, who had hit the range.
Then, McIlroy found that one shot that made those 11 years worth the wait.
"It's the best day of my golfing life," McIlroy said. "And yeah, I'm very proud of myself. I'm proud of never giving up. I'm proud of how I kept coming back and dusting myself off and not letting the disappointments really get to me.
"It's a dream come true."
Tom D'Angelo is a senior sports columnist and reporter for The Palm Beach Post. He can be reached at [email protected].
This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Rory McIlroy gets career grand slam at Masters defeating Justin Rose in playoff
Continue reading...
