Rory McIlroy Completes Career Grand Slam

By Ryan Shurgin

Rory McIlroy has finally done it. After years of close calls and heartbreak at Augusta National, the Northern Irishman won the 2025 Masters and claimed the one major title that had always escaped him. With the win, he becomes just the sixth golfer in history to complete the career Grand Slam, joining the legendary ranks of Jack Nicklaus, Tiger Woods, Ben Hogan, Gary Player, and Gene Sarazen.

The final round on Sunday was a roller coaster. McIlroy started the day with a double bogey, setting a nervous tone that continued throughout the afternoon. At times, he looked like he was pulling away, especially after an early birdie at the 10th that gave him a four-shot lead. But Augusta has a way of humbling even the best, and McIlroy was no exception. A bogey on 11 and a shocking shot into Rae’s Creek on 13 brought back memories of past collapses. Four double bogeys on the scorecard would normally mean disaster, but McIlroy kept grinding, recovering with clutch shots and timely birdies to stay in contention.

After 72 holes, McIlroy was tied with fellow Ryder Cup veteran Justin Rose, forcing the first sudden-death playoff at the Masters since 2017. It was a fitting end to one of the most dramatic final rounds in recent memory. McIlroy, locked in and determined, hit a solid approach shot and drained a 4-foot birdie putt to win. The moment the putt dropped, he dropped to his knees and began to sob. It wasn’t just joy, it was relief, emotion, and years of pressure finally lifting off his shoulders.

After the round, McIlroy admitted that it was a mental battle more than anything else. “My battle today was with myself,” he said. “It wasn’t perfect, but I stayed in it. That moment on the 18th green was just all the emotion coming out after chasing this for so long.” He added that the first thing he felt was not joy, but pure relief. The joy, he said with a smile, came shortly after.

McIlroy’s road to the Green Jacket has been a long one. He’s been coming to Augusta for 17 years and had several close calls, most notably in 2011 when he entered the final round with the lead but shot an 80. That collapse became part of Masters lore, and for more than a decade it looked like Augusta National might never be conquered by McIlroy. But on Sunday, with his longtime caddie and childhood friend Harry Diamond by his side, he finally finished the job.

The win cements McIlroy’s legacy as one of the greats of the modern era. He now holds major championships in the Masters, U.S. Open, The Open Championship, and PGA Championship. And while he had already achieved so much in his career, this win fills the one glaring gap on his résumé. He is no longer just one of the best players of his generation, he is now a member of one of golf’s most exclusive clubs.

This Masters had everything: drama, heartbreak, roars from the patrons, and ultimately, a historic finish. For McIlroy, it was a decade in the making. For golf fans, it was a Sunday they’ll never forget.