At 7am on 14 April in an augusta rental home, Rory McIlroy awoke adn immediately spotted a Green Jacket draped over a chair. “You think: ‘Yeah, that did happen yesterday,'” he says. “That.” McIlroy was now the sixth man to win all four of golf’s majors.

The detail of what lay around in the bedroom of my own Augusta billet is of no interest to anybody. That was, however, a memorable morning. I had previously and wrongly believed nothing would top Tiger Woods’s 2019 Masters win in respect of seismic reaction. Scores of messages from friends, colleagues, family members – umpteen of whom have no interest whatsoever in golf – had landed. broadcast outlets across the world wanted my assessment of what had played out on Masters Sunday. Yeah, that did happen yesterday.Related: ‘A great night for golf’: McIlroy hails Spoty success after individual and team awards

The first major I covered was McIlroy’s debut in the same format,at the 2007 Open Championship. My first trip to Augusta was four years later; I lost my luggage and stayed in a hotel that has long since and rightly been condemned. McIlroy tossed away what had looked an unassailable led and the rest is storied, occasional brutal, history.

Inserting yourself into a story we only tell for others never feels cool, but watching McIlroy so closely over almost two decades has been so thrilling, so compelling that it has been unachievable not to root for him. Writing the words, “Rory McIlroy, Masters champion” was genuinely an emotional moment.

It was also a fraught one. It may be reasonable to think somebody who has covered more majors than I care to remember has preordained sentiment about how to form a report. I did not and was delighted that was the case. Day four of the 89th Masters

rory McIlroy Completes Career Grand Slam at the Masters

Augusta, GA – Rory McIlroy has finally done it. He secured his first Masters Tournament victory on April 13, 2025, completing a career Grand Slam. This win places him among golf’s elite, joining Gene Sarazen, Ben Hogan, Gary Player, Jack Nicklaus, and Tiger Woods in achieving this remarkable feat.

McIlroy’s final round wasn’t without pressure. After a blistering start, a momentary wobble on the back nine threatened to derail his chances. However, he steadied himself with crucial birdies, ultimately finishing at 15 under par, one stroke ahead of Bryson DeChambeau.

By the 10th green, McIlroy appeared to have the tournament in hand. A birdie extended his lead to 14 under par, with DeChambeau trailing by five strokes. Ludvig Åberg and Justin Rose were also in contention, but didn’t pose a significant threat to McIlroy’s lead. Rose, though, mounted a late charge, reaching 11 under par, while Åberg briefly tied for the lead at 10 under.

DeChambeau, despite his best efforts, couldn’t close the gap. McIlroy’s composure and precision under pressure proved to be the deciding factors. His approach shots were consistently accurate, and his putting was exceptional throughout the week.

This victory marks a turning point in McIlroy’s career. He has long been considered one of the most talented golfers in the world, but the Masters title had eluded him. Now, with all four major championships under his belt, he has cemented his legacy as a true golfing legend.

“It’s amazing,” McIlroy said after the win. “This has been a dream of mine since I was a kid. To finally achieve it is just… unbelievable.”