Rory McIlroy Finally Gets His Green Jacket — and the Grand Slam
Twelve years. That’s how long Rory McIlroy’s been chasing the one that got away.
But on a picture-perfect Sunday at Augusta National, the four-time major champ closed the loop. With ice in his veins and legacy on the line, McIlroy buried a birdie on the first playoff hole to win the 2025 Masters, completing golf’s elusive career Grand Slam in spine-tingling fashion.
It was vintage Rory — equal parts brilliance and guts — as he outdueled reigning champ Scottie Scheffler and rising star Ludvig Åberg in a back-nine brawl that ended in a three-way playoff.
The Shot Heard 'Round Amen Corner
McIlroy, 35, started the day trailing Åberg by three but roared into contention with a clinical stretch on the back nine, capped by a nerveless 10-footer for birdie on 18 to card a 4-under 68. That tied him with Scheffler (70) and Åberg (69) at 10-under for the week — setting the stage for a sudden-death showdown that felt more like a heavyweight title fight.
On the playoff hole — back on 18 — McIlroy split the fairway, stuck his approach to 12 feet, and calmly rolled in the birdie. Scheffler couldn’t match. Åberg missed wide. Game over.
Grand Slam secured.
Finally, the Missing Piece
For over a decade, Augusta has been McIlroy’s white whale — the one course that refused to yield. He’s finished top-10 here eight times. He’s come heartbreakingly close. But until now, it never quite clicked.
This week? It all synced. The swing. The swagger. The purpose.
“I knew I had the game. I just needed the moment,” McIlroy said after the win, visibly emotional. “This was the one I wanted the most.”
He now joins Tiger Woods, Jack Nicklaus, Ben Hogan, Gary Player, and Gene Sarazen as the only men to complete the career Grand Slam — a club so exclusive it’s practically sacred.
A Legendary Climb
McIlroy’s win also marks his first major victory since 2014, ending a decade-long drought that had cast shadows over an otherwise stellar career. It’s his fifth major title overall — and maybe his most meaningful.
Scheffler and Åberg weren’t just along for the ride. Both played near-flawless golf and made Rory earn every inch. Åberg, the 24-year-old phenom from Sweden, looked unfazed in just his second major appearance. Scheffler, the world No. 1, was chasing back-to-back Masters titles and came painfully close.
But this Sunday belonged to Rory.
What’s Next?
McIlroy's long quest for Augusta redemption is complete. The narratives flip now: from “will he ever?” to “what more can he do?” At 35, he’s healthy, hungry, and back atop golf’s biggest stage.
One thing’s for sure: the 2025 Masters gave us the drama we hoped for — and the ending McIlroy’s career desperately deserved.
Green jacket on. Grand Slam locked. The legacy? Untouchable.