Rory McIlroy described his career Grand Slam-clinching victory at The Masters as the best day of his golfing life as he edged out Justin Rose in a play-off, following an extraordinary final day at Augusta National.
McIlroy recovered from losing his overnight two-shot advantage with an opening-hole double bogey to stretch ahead by four, only to then blow that lead over his closing six holes.
A bogey at the last forced McIlroy to replay the 18th against Rose, who earned his play-off spot with a stunning final-round 66, where he fired a terrific approach to within three feet of the pin and clinched victory with a birdie.
“It feels incredible,” McIlroy said when getting his hands on a first Green Jacket in Butler’s Cabin. “This is my 17th time here, and I started to wonder if it would ever be my time?.
“I’d say it was 14 years in the making, from going out with the four-shot lead in 2011 – feeling like I could have got it done there. There was a lot of pent up emotion that just came out on the 18th green. But a moment like that makes all of the years and close calls worth it.”
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Rory McIlroy reflects on what his Masters win will mean to his family, as he receives his Green Jacket from last year’s winner Scottie Scheffler.
McIlroy: Masters pursuit was heavy burden
With his victory, McIlroy ended an 11-year drought in major tournaments, earned a fifth title and first at Augusta National – 14 years on from, as he mentioned, a final-round collapse in 2011.
It also saw him become just the sixth golfer in history to complete the career Grand Slam, joining Gene Sarazen, Ben Hogan, Gary Player, Jack Nicklaus and Tiger Woods.
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Watch highlights of Rory McIlroy’s rollercoaster round to win The Masters in a play-off against Justin Rose and complete a career Grand Slam!
At his press conference, McIlroy spoke of how challenging the pursuit of that goal has been over the past decade.
“I’ve carried that burden since August 2014, nearly 11 years – not just about winning my next major, but the career Grand Slam, to join only five players to do it,” he said.
“I watched a lot of my peers get Green Jackets in the process; it’s been difficult. I’ve tried to approach this tournament with the most positive attitude every time I’ve turned up, and I think the accumulative experience I’ve gained coming back here every year, I feel like I get a little more comfortable with the shots needed.
“But there’s talking about it and actually doing it. It was a heavy weight to carry but thankfully now I don’t have to carry it and it hopefully frees me up. I know I’m coming back here every year, which is lovely!”
