US Masters 2025: Rory McIlroy wins and completes career Grand Slam

Rory McIlroy wins the US Masters 2025 and completes the career Grand Slam in golf. The Northern Irishman has now won all four major tournaments in golf - the US Masters, PGA Championship, Open Championship and US Open - at least once. Only five other golfers have achieved this before him. McIlroy came close to winning the US Masters several times, but failed each time, mostly because of himself. On Sunday, the 35-year-old crossed the finish line to the frenetic cheers of the patrons and made history.

US Masters 2025 decided in the play-off

However, he had to go into a play-off with the brilliant Justin Rose. The Englishman had played his way to the clubhouse lead on eleven under Par with a spirited performance and six Birdies on the last eight holes. McIlroy, who had a five-shot lead at one point, squeezed into the play-off with a Bogey on the 18th.

The five-time major champion had already experienced a real up and down at Augusta National Golf Club. He made up for a double Bogey on the 1st with Birdies on the 2nd and 3rd and got rolling. Determined to finally win the US Masters, McIlroy did not give the impression of letting another major slip from his grasp.

Rory McIlroy threatened to collapse again

But it was on the 13th of all holes, where McIlroy played particularly carefully, that his plan seemed to collapse. On the Par-5, the exit of the notorious Amen Corner, McIlroy laid up to avoid Raes Creek, a small stream that runs across the green. However, what was probably his worst shot of the tournament week sank the ball in the water. Another double bogey was the result. The seven-time Ryder Cupper recorded a total of four during the week of the tournament, more than any previous Masters champion. This also speaks for the huge number of Birdies and Eagles that McIlroy holed (18 Birdies, three Eagles).

The most important Birdie, however, was probably the one in the play-off against the pitiful Justin Rose, who has now led the Masters for a total of ten rounds but is still waiting to win the Green Jacket. McIlroy chased his approach a good one meter to the flag on the 18th hole and then holed it with ease. You could tell from his cheers as McIlroy fell to his knees how relieved he was to have finally overcome this hurdle.

The "unfinished man" wins the Grand Slam

For a long time, he had been regarded as the unfinished man, unable to bring major victories across the finish line since winning a total of four major titles between 2011 and 2014. It was only last June at the US Open that he let victory slip from his grasp shortly before the end. His opponent back then was Bryson DeChambeau. The American was also his playing partner in the final group at the Masters. But the long-hitter, who is on the LIV Tour, had little to offer McIlroy or his pursuers and dropped back to a tie for fifth place with his 75 (+3) in the final round.

So McIlroy "only" had to beat himself this time. His body language, even after setbacks, was different to before. Determined and determined, he followed his strategy and did not hang his head, even when things got tight. The Career Grand Slam is the well-deserved reward for this resilience and the ability to believe in himself even after years of failure. It may even open the door to winning even more majors with renewed self-confidence. Eleven years passed between his last major title and his victory at the US Masters in 2025. The golf world harbored great doubts as to whether McIlroy would ever win another major. He had thrown away titles too often without much help from his opponents. But this year he came to Augusta with two titles in his luggage, more than ever before. Mature and prepared, he showed qualities that had been missing in several of his narrowly missed victories.

"I've been carrying this burden since August 2014"

"It's very difficult," said McIlroy at the press conference after his success over his dry spell without a major win. "I think I've been carrying this burden since August 2014, that's almost eleven years! And it's not just about winning my next major, it's about winning the career Grand Slam. I'm trying to join a group of five players who have done that, while watching many of my peers win the Green Jacket."

"I've tried to approach this tournament with a positive attitude every time I've turned up here, and I think the experience I've gained here each year has given me a little more confidence in the shots I need. I talked about it at the start of the week, but there's talking about it and then there's actually doing it."

"I was incredibly nervous this morning. I was really nervous on the first hole, as you saw with my double bogey. But like I said, it kind of calmed me down and I was able to collect myself and show the strength that I've talked about so much." With four million dollars in prize money, the green jacket and the Grand Slam in his pocket, life will now be a little easier for Rory McIlroy.

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