Rory McIlroy Wins Masters in Playoff, Secures Career Grand Slam
The journey of Rory McIlroy to a green jacket is finally complete. After years of near-misses and heartbreak at Augusta National, the Northern Irishman won the 2025 Masters in dramatic fashion, defeating Justin Rose in a sudden-death playoff.
McIlroy’s victory makes him just the sixth golfer in history to complete the career Grand Slam, joining an elite club alongside Tiger Woods, Jack Nicklaus, Gary Player, Ben Hogan, and Gene Sarazen.
A Win 17 Years in the Making
“This is my 17th time here,” McIlroy said post-round, “and I started to wonder if it would ever be my time.”
It finally was. McIlroy, 35, battled through a rollercoaster Sunday that saw him lose a four-shot lead on the back nine, double bogey the par-5 13th, and need a birdie at 17 to retake control. He finished regulation tied with Rose at 11-under-par (277).
In the playoff, McIlroy delivered when it mattered most—stuffing a wedge to three feet at the 18th and converting the birdie after Rose’s 15-footer slid by the cup.
McIlroy’s Major Championship Resume
With this win, McIlroy now holds all four major titles:
- Masters (2025)
- U.S. Open (2011)
- PGA Championship (2012, 2014)
- Open Championship (2014)
His first green jacket ends an 11-year major drought and solidifies his status as one of the greats of the modern era.
Final Round Drama at Augusta
McIlroy entered Sunday at 12-under, two ahead of Bryson DeChambeau. By the turn, he was cruising with a four-shot lead—only to falter on Amen Corner. A bogey-double bogey-bogey stretch from holes 11–14 opened the door for Rose, who carded a brilliant final-round 66.
Just when it looked like history might slip away again, McIlroy produced two unforgettable shots: a hooked 208-yard second into 15 and a pin-seeking 8-iron on 17 that led to a go-ahead birdie.
Final Top 5 Leaderboard
- Rory McIlroy –11 (wins playoff)
- Justin Rose –11
- Patrick Reed –9
- Scottie Scheffler –8
- Sungjae Im, Bryson DeChambeau –7
More…
- https://www.pgatour.com/article/news/latest/2025/04/13/masters-final-round-updates-scores-leaderboard-round-4-augusta-national-live-blog-rory-mcilroy-bryson-dechambeau
- https://golf.com/news/masters-playoff-rules-2025-rory-mcilroy/?amp=1
- https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/golf/masters/2025/04/13/masters-playoff-format/83074616007/
