Rory McIlroy Finally Grabs the Green Jacket and His Grand Slam in an Epic Masters Showdown

• Rory McIlroy outlasted Justin Rose in a nail-biting playoff to win the 2025 Masters, checking off his career Grand Slam.
• He carded a gritty 73 in the final round to end at 11-under, then nailed a 4-foot birdie putt in the playoff to seal it.
• At 35, he’s now the sixth guy—and first European—to win all four majors, finally getting that Green Jacket.

Man, what a Sunday at Augusta! Rory McIlroy finally did it—he won the 2025 Masters on April 13, beating Justin Rose in a playoff that had everyone on the edge of their seats. With that Green Jacket, Rory’s now got all four majors in the bag, joining legends like Jack Nicklaus and Tiger Woods as the sixth guy to pull off the career Grand Slam. Oh, and he’s the first European to do it. Pretty wild, right?

Chasing Augusta’s Ghost

Rory’s been so close at the Masters before, it’s almost cruel. Back in 2011, he was up by four shots going into Sunday, just 21 years old, and then—oof—shot an 80. Total heartbreak. He’s had other near-misses too, like coming in second in 2022. Augusta’s been like this puzzle he couldn’t crack. Until now.

This year, Rory McIlroy came into the final round with a two-shot lead. Sounds comfy, but Rose was on fire, throwing up a 66 like it was nothing. Rory? He ground out a 73, and let me tell you, it wasn’t pretty—four double-bogeys over the week, which is nuts for a Masters champ. Still, he hung in there, tying Rose at 11-under after 72 holes. Then came the playoff on 18. Rory stuck a wedge to like 4 feet, cool as you like, and drained the birdie putt. Rose couldn’t match it. Game over.

You could see the relief all over Rory’s face when that putt dropped. He gave his caddie Harry Diamond this massive hug, and then his buddy Shane Lowry joined in. It was one of those moments where you’re just like, “Yeah, he earned this.”

What Rory McIlroy Has Done (and Man, It’s a Lot)

This win puts Rory McIlroy in some seriously rare company—only Sarazen, Hogan, Player, Nicklaus, and Woods, and now he has all four majors. Here’s a quick rundown of why Rory’s been a big deal for a while:

• U.S. Open (2011): Smashed it at Congressional, winning by eight shots as a kid.
• PGA Championship (2012, 2014): Took home two, including an epic battle at Valhalla in ’14.
• The Open (2014): Grabbed the Claret Jug at Royal Liverpool.
• FedEx Cups (2016, 2019, 2022): Three of those, showing he’s clutch all season long.
• Ryder Cup Star: Helped Europe win four times (2010, 2012, 2014, 2018). The guy’s a team player.
• 40 Wins and Counting: From PGA Tour to Europe, he’s racked up trophies left and right.

This Masters win, though? It’s the one that makes him a Grand Slam champ, and being the first European to do it adds some extra shine.

No More Doubts

Rory McIlroy got real in Butler Cabin, saying something like, “This is my 17th Masters, and I was starting to think it’d never happen. I’m just so thrilled.” You could tell it hit deep—14 years after that 2011 meltdown, he’s finally got his jacket. People have been whispering for years that maybe Rory’s best days were gone, especially since he hadn’t won a major since 2014. This shut them up real quick.

Even Rose, who must’ve been gutted, was all class. He said something about how his 66 and pushing Rory to the limit felt special, and you know he meant it when he tipped his hat to Rory’s win.

What’s Next?

Rory’s only 35, so who knows how many more he’s got in him? Now that he’s got the Grand Slam, folks are already wondering if he’ll start piling up majors like Nicklaus (18) or Woods (15). That’s a tall order, but after this win—where he somehow won despite those double-bogeys—you wouldn’t bet against him.

For now, Rory’s probably just soaking it all in. He chased this dream forever, and now it’s his. Gotta feel good.