Rory McIlroy waited for the Masters title with a birdie in the opening hole of the Sudden Death playoff to beat Justin Rose to win a career grand slam after a nervous final round.
After missing a five-foot par putt on the 18th, which forced the playoffs on Sunday, McIlroy didn’t let his latest chance escape in massive glory, returning to the same hole in the playoffs and placing a two-foot approach from the cup.
When the winning putt fell, McIlroy lifted his arms up towards the clear sky and made his putter fall behind him.
McIlroy then accepted his wife, Erika, and daughter Poppy, as a hymn for “Lolly! Lolly!” Rhyming around the green, he gathered green jackets towards the Butler cabin, and after the Back Nine tripped, he had almost thrown away.
“There were a lot of excitement that just came out on that 18th Green,” McIlroy said just before sliding his green jacket at the presentation ceremony. “That moment is every year and deserves all the close call.”
With the victory, McIlroy joined Gene Sarazen, Ben Hogan, Gary Player, Jack Nicklaus and Tiger Woods as the only golfer to win each of the four major championships.
McIlroy, 35, blew a four-shot lead on the back nine in 2011, scoring a barren run that earned a significant share of near misses in pursuit of his first major since August 2014.
The lead disappeared
It seemed McIlroy had once again been heading for a major breakup as golfers swapped leaderboard positions at a heart-bending pace for a while.
McIlroy was in full control when he reached the turn, but shockingly abandoned the seemingly comfortable four-shot lead and delivered the two best shots of his career late to keep his hopes alive.
On the par-5, 15th hole, McIlroy smacked an incredible charm around some branches and above the pond, with his balls settling on a greenish pond six feet away. He missed the Eagle putt, but Birdie cleared him from one Rose.
After Rose, who played five groups first, after drawing the level with 20 footers on the 18th hole, McIlroy once again excavated a bag of tricks with a skillful stroke on the par 4 stroke of No. 17.
“This was my 17th time here and I began to wonder if it was my time,” said McIlroy, the first European to win a career grand slam for four boys majors.
“I think the last 10 years have been trying to come here with a Grand Slam burden on my shoulder and achieve that.
There’s a lot to learn
It marked Rose’s Masters Heartbreak, losing in the 2017 playoffs to Sergio Garcia and now finishing three runner-ups at Augusta National.
Former US Open champion Rose burned the back nine on his way to the 6-under par 66, the co-low round of the day, but the 44-year-old British missed a 15-foot birdie putt that extended the playoffs.
“If you don’t have a little heartache, you can’t skip a career,” Rose said.
“That won’t happen. If you’re willing to unlock a big championship, you need to put yourself in the line. You have to risk feeling this way to get the other way.”
Bryson Dechambeau, who started the day with a two-shot from McIlroy in second place, fell to fifth-place share after closing his third 75.
“From this week there’s a lot to take away, learn, and lots of pride and a lot to get mad,” said Decanbeau, who took the full lead after two holes. “But I’ve learned a lot and I’m ready to try again.”
Former champion Patrick Reed was alone in third place, two shots from lead, and Scotty Schaeffler had bid to become the fourth player to be repeated as Masters champion, but finished more shots in fourth place.
“Overall, I’m not saying I have the best of my own, but I fought hard all week,” Schaeffler said.
“This was the best I’ve been mentally mentally all year round. I don’t think my game was there.”
