Rory McIlroy was agonizingly close to winning the Masters one too many times before, but just couldn’t get across the finish line. That was until Sunday, when he finally got the elusive green jacket, winning the 2025 edition of the famed tournament and completing a career Grand Slam.
In the final round, McIlroy appeared to be headed to another heartbreak. He had a lead of three shots from the third round before seeing it melt away after he shot a 73, one over par. Meanwhile, Justin Rose managed to make up significant ground and tie him after finishing the round with 66, six under par.
Rose missed a birdie putt on the first playoff hole, while McIlroy made his to cap off an emotional win.
The win at the 2025 Masters was McIlroy’s fifth major championship and first since 2014. It also made him just the sixth player in the Modern Era to complete a Grand Slam, having previously won the U.S. Open in 2011, PGA Championship in 2012 and 2014, and The Open Championship in 2014.
“This is my 17th time here, and I started to wonder if it would ever be my time,” McIlroy said after the tournament. “I think the last 10 years coming here with the burden of the Grand Slam on my shoulders and trying to achieve that, yeah, I’m sort of wondering what we’re all going to talk about going into next year’s Masters.”
