Augusta Masters: Rory McIlroy wins dramatic maiden Masters title to complete career Grand Slam
ByOli Gent
Published 14/04/2025 at 00:36 GMT+1
Rory McIlroy finally completed his career Grand Slam as he claimed a maiden Masters title at Augusta. The Northern Irishman went into the final day with a two-shot lead on American Bryson DeChambeau, and his lead stretched as far as four on a rollercoaster final day, with McIlroy letting the lead slip before incredibly bringing it back to win the title in a play-off against Justin Rose.
Highlights: Leader Mcllroy two clear of DeChambeau after Day 3
Video credit: TNT Sports
Rory McIlroy completed his career Grand Slam with a dramatic first Masters title at Augusta.
The Northern Irishman led the field by two shots going into the final day in Georgia, with American Bryson DeChambeau his closest competitor.
McIlroy, 12-under par as he teed off, double-bogeyed the first hole to get off to the worst possible start, surrendering his lead off the bat as DeChambeau moved in for the kill, edging ahead at the second.
However, it seemed as though the occasion was getting the better of the American, who bogeyed the third and fourth as McIlroy established what was looking to be a strong three-shot lead.
At the ninth, McIlroy extended his lead to four as DeChambeau began to unravel, and by the start of the back nine, it was England's Justin Rose who had become McIlroy's biggest threat.
Rose, the 2013 US Open champion, shot five under in the opening 17 holes of his final round, despite bogeying the 14th and 17th.
McIlroy bogeyed the 11th, with DeChambeau double-bogeying and completely out of contention, while Scottie Scheffler, the world No. 1, began to shoot himself into the conversation, although his efforts came too little, too late.
A double bogey for McIlroy on the 13th saw his mettle really put to the test - especially with Rose moving level with him at the top of the leaderboard - and he found himself knocked off his perch at the 14th, inches away from a par with his putt veering off to the right.
A 20-foot birdie putt on the 18th prompted a roar of delight from Rose as he rounded off his tournament with a six-under 66 and 11-under overall, and level with McIlroy.
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Rory McIlroy sealed the Grand Slam at Augusta
Image credit: Getty Images
McIlroy made a brilliant birdie on the 17th. Then, there was more drama as McIlroy landed his second shot in the bunker on 18, but he was able to navigate out with a superb chip out of the sand, just five feet from the hole and a maiden Green Jacket.
One final gentle swing of his putter was all he needed to write his name into golfing folklore, but he agonisingly missed, setting up a play-off against Rose, who had been waiting with trepidation back on the practice range.
Into sudden death they went, and both men played excellent second shots onto the green at 18, with McIlroy's effort much closer.
Rose missed his putt, but McIlroy did not, and he sank to his knees as he won a first major since 2014 and sealed a career Grand Slam.
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