Rory McIlroy earns career grand slam in dramatic Masters win

On April 14 , Rory McIlroy defeated Justin Rose in sudden-death playoffs to secure his first Masters title, finally completing his career Grand Slam. The 35-year-old from Northern Ireland persevered in a tense final round at the Augusta National Golf Course to become the first European male golfer to claim all four major championships in the sport.

England’s Justin Rose took the lead in the tournament on opening day, scoring an impressive 65, and followed it with a composed -1 below par round on Friday to carry his advantage into the weekend.

Defending champion Scottie Scheffler’s play was also a highlight on Thursday, with the American playing a bogey-free round. His momentum did not last, with Scheffler eventually finishing the tournament in fourth after a wobbly Friday and Saturday.

McIlroy’s Augusta win came on his eleventh attempt

Bryson DeChambeau surged into the top three on Saturday and briefly took the solo lead early on Sunday after a stumble on the first holes from McIlroy. His attempt to take home the Green Jacket ended in vain, as DeChambeau imploded later into the day, finishing in T5 after a +3 round.

McIlroy’s Augusta win came on his eleventh attempt to claim the fourth and final major needed to complete his career grand slam.

The iconic Georgia course represents one of the most demanding challenges in professional golfing. Famous for its natural beauty and deceptive difficulty, Augusta can foil even the best in the sport with its undulating fairways and lightning-fast greens. The revered Amen Corner, which comprises the infamous 12th and 13th par-3s, epitomises the punishing nature of the course, with difficult tee shots making or breaking many title hopes.

McIlroy calmly sank a three-foot birdie to secure the Green Jacket

Despite a potentially destabilising double bogey early into his run, McIlroy persevered with a respectable 1+ performance on the final day. His penultimate shot in the regulation round was a devastating missed five-foot putt for victory, which was later redeemed by a flawless first playoff hole, where McIlroy calmly sank a three-foot birdie to secure ownership of the Green Jacket for 2025.

Only six men in history have achieved a career Grand Slam: Gene Sarazen, Ben Hogan, Gary Player, Jack Nicklaus, Tiger Woods, and now Rory McIlroy. These men completed their Grand Slams in three attempts or fewer at their final major, testament to McIlroy’s longevity and perseverance as a competitor.

The win adds to his previous major titles: the U.S. Open (2011), PGA Championship (2012, 2014), and Open Championship (2014), bringing his total to five, capping off a journey that began with early success as a PGA Tour rookie and now places him in one of golf’s most exclusive clubs.