Rory McIlroy has finally done it.
With a dramatic final round on Sunday at Augusta National Golf Club, McIlroy finally won The Masters in his 17th appearance in golf’s first major of the year. By doing so, McIlory has now completed the career Grand Slam, winning The Masters (2025), the U.S. Open (2011), the PGA Championship (20212, 2014), and the Open Championship (2014).
McIlroy also becomes the sixth golfer to accomplish the feat, joining Gene Sarazen, Ben Hogan, Gary Player, Jack Nicklaus, and Tiger Woods. The 35-year-old is the second-oldest golfer to achieve this feat.
The historic day, which also saw him snap his 10-year major drought, began terribly as he double bogeyed No. 1. Bryson DeChambeau then birdied No. 2 to take a one-stroke lead over McIlroy. He responded with birdies on No. 3 and 4 while DeChambeau bogeyed both holes. He closed out the front nine with a birdie on No. 9 and then began No. 10 with another birdie.
While his playing partner DeChambeau was fading out of contention, McIlory got into serious trouble with a bogey on No. 11 and then hit into the water on No. 13 to card a double bogey.
As he was giving strokes back on the back nine, the 36-hole leader Justin Rose was storming up the leaderboard.
After posting two birdies and two bogeys in the first six holes, Rose birdied No. 7, No. 8, No. 11, and No. 12. He gave a shot back on No. 14 but then responded with birdies on No. 15 and No. 16. That tied him at 11-under par with McIlory.
McIlroy’s struggles on the back nine opened up the door for others.
Ludvig Aberg, the 2024 runner-up, found himself in contention as he started off his round shooting 4-under through the first 15 holes. That had him tied for the lead with McIlory and Rose at 10-under.
McIlroy regained the lead on No. 15 when he missed his eagle putt but did tap in a birdie putt. A few moments later, Rose wrapped up his low round of 6-under 66 with a birdie on No. 18.
With Aberg carding a bogey on No. 17, which dropped him two strokes behind the leaders, McIlory had two holes to win the championship. He birdied No. 17 to put him at 12-under par and with a one-stroke lead heading to No. 18.
Mcilroy would hit a good tee shot, but then his second shot landed in the greenside bunker. He chipped out to set up a makeable par putt, but he missed it. That bogey dropped him a shot and put him in a tie with Rose, resulting in a sudden-death playoff.
Rose missed his birdie putt on the playoff hole while McIlroy drained his to win his first green jacket.
2018 Masters champion Patrick Reed shot 3-under on Sunday to get to 9-under for the tournament and a third-place finish. Defending champion Scottie Scheffler also shot a 3-under on Sunday to finish in fourth place, while Sungjae Kim and DeChambeau were tied for fifth place.
Aberg, meanwhile, triple bogeyed No. 18 to shoot even par on the day and finished in seventh place. Zach Johnson, Xander Schauffele, Jason Day, and Corey Conners all finished tied for eighth at 5-under par for the tournament.
McIlroy also made history by becoming the first golfer to card four double bogeys or worse and still win the tournament.
