Rory McIlroy Becomes Sixth Player to Complete Career Grand Slam with Playoff Victory Over Justin Rose at Masters

Rory McIlroy has achieved a historic victory at the 2025 Masters Tournament, completing the career Grand Slam by winning all four major golf championships. This triumph marks McIlroy as the sixth player to accomplish this feat, joining legends like Jack Nicklaus and Tiger Woods. The victory came after a dramatic final round where McIlroy faced a playoff against Justin Rose, who had an impressive round of 66 with 10 birdies. McIlroy's journey to the Masters win was filled with emotional highs and lows. He started the final round with a double bogey but managed to regain his composure and lead. A crucial moment came when McIlroy missed a six-foot putt on the 72nd hole, leading to the playoff. His caddie, Harry Diamond, played a significant role in helping McIlroy refocus, reminding him that they would have been happy to be in a playoff at the start of the week. McIlroy, at 35 years old, had Harry Diamond on his bag, just as he did when he was 16 at the 2005 Irish Open. The victory was celebrated by many, including President Donald Trump, who praised McIlroy's 'great guts, stamina, and courage.' Tiger Woods also congratulated McIlroy, welcoming him to the exclusive club of Grand Slam winners. Bryson DeChambeau, despite not speaking to McIlroy during the final round, later took to social media to acknowledge McIlroy's deserving win. Approximately 40,000 fans were present to witness McIlroy's pursuit of the Grand Slam. McIlroy's personal life also garnered attention, with his ex-fiancee Caroline Wozniacki attending the event and making comments about his victory. Additionally, McIlroy did not mention his wife, Erica Stoll, in his post-victory interview, sparking some discussion. McIlroy shared an emotional moment with Justin Rose’s wife after his win and did not take a shot at £2.7million following his victory. The Masters victory has broader implications, with McIlroy receiving an invitation from Manchester United's manager Ruben Amorim to display the trophy at Old Trafford. Furthermore, McIlroy has committed to playing in the upcoming PGA Tour's Truist Championship at the Philadelphia Cricket Club, a venue he has previously won at. McIlroy will return to his £16m mansion after the tournament. Travis Kelce revealed he nearly made a drastic decision to attend the Masters to watch McIlroy's 'emotional' win, and Scottie Scheffler's hand condition was a topic of interest during the week.