At 7 a.m. on April 14, in a rental home in Augusta, Rory McIlroy woke up and immediately saw a Green Jacket hanging over a chair. “You think, ‘Yeah, that did happen yesterday,'” he says. “That.” McIlroy had just become the sixth man to win all four of golf’s major championships.
The details of what was scattered around my own Augusta bedroom are of no interest to anyone. But it was a memorable morning. I had previously and mistakenly believed nothing would surpass the seismic reaction to Tiger Woods’s 2019 Masters win. Scores of messages from friends, colleagues, and family—many of whom have no interest in golf whatsoever—had poured in. Broadcast outlets around the world wanted my take on what had unfolded on Masters Sunday. Yeah, that did happen yesterday.
The first major I covered was McIlroy’s debut in the same event, at the 2007 Open Championship. My first trip to Augusta was four years later; I lost my luggage and stayed in a hotel that has long since, and rightly, been condemned. McIlroy threw away what had seemed an unassailable lead, and the rest is storied, occasionally brutal, history.
Inserting yourself into a story we only tell for others never feels cool, but watching McIlroy so closely over nearly two decades has been so thrilling and compelling that it has been impossible not to root for him. Writing the words “Rory McIlroy, Masters champion” was genuinely an emotional moment.
It was also a fraught one. You might think someone who has covered more majors than I care to remember would have a pre-written script for how to form a report. I did not, and I was glad that was the case. Day four of the 89th Masters was extraordinary. The task was simple: write what you see.
There was a brief period when I thought it would unfold differently, when the latest hammer blow to McIlroy’s lifelong dream would be delivered. This was billed as a duel between McIlroy and Bryson DeChambeau, the Northern Irishman’s nemesis from the 2024 U.S. Open.
McIlroy, the natural artist with sporting immortality on the line, versus the LIV man, the bludgeoner. Calling it good versus bad is a stretch, but it sort of was.
McIlroy made a double-bogey at the 1st hole that Sunday. He missed an opportunity at the soft 2nd, as DeChambeau edged into the lead. “Not today,” said a fellow media member as I caught his eye on the walk toward the 3rd. I feared he was right. And if not today, perhaps not ever.
It would be wrong, though, to portray the press as somehow wanting McIlroy to fail. There is dark humor and cynicism in this environment as routine. McIlroy is hugely popular among those who cover him. It also felt as if everyone had decided, including those Augusta galleries—despite McIlroy supposedly being in opposition to an American—that he was due Masters glory. “Supposedly” is the operative term, because DeChambeau was about to collapse.
By the 10th green, McIlroy had the Masters won. Didn’t he? A birdie there took him to 14 under par. DeChambeau was now five back. Ludvig Åberg and Justin Rose lurked, without anyone really sensing that McIlroy’s Ryder Cup teammates could make a game of this. Rose had other ideas, surging to 11 under (Åberg reached 10 and a three-way tie before collapsing) as McIlroy wobbled from the 11th onward.
Well, it had all felt a little too straightforward. McIlroy found a dodgy lie for his chip to the 13th green, which slid into water. Wondrous shots at the 15th—with a seven-iron he later gave to the club—and 17th could not prevent a playoff.Rory McIlroy watches as Justin Rose lines up a putt on the 18th hole, the first playoff hole. Rose missed from 15 feet, and McIlroy holed from 4 feet to win. Photograph: Mike Blake/Reuters
Harry Diamond, McIlroy’s caddie and best friend, is no trained sports psychologist, but he delivered the line of the week as the pair prepared for extra time. “Well, pal, you would have taken this position at the start of the week.”
From a journalistic standpoint, it was incredibly tricky. It was either McIlroy’s moment or an outright disaster. There was no room for vague wording or hedging bets. That Sunday in Augusta, McIlroy wasn’t just playing for the Masters. He wasn’t just playing to complete the career grand slam, nor was he only seeking to end a wait for a fifth major that stretched back to 2014. It was all of these things at once, making it profoundly significant.
McIlroy’s reaction to victory is an easier reference point than the majestic approach shot he hit into the opening playoff hole—pounding the grass, head in hands, tears in his eyes. One of the many incredible things about McIlroy is how relatable he has remained despite his superstar status. You don’t need to be a tour golfer to appreciate the magnitude of what was unfolding and the pain McIlroy had endured on the path toward it.
McIlroy may well win more Masters. He will certainly win more majors. But nothing will compare to this one.
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Rory McIlroy was overcome with emotion after a long wait for a fifth major title. Photograph: Andrew Redington/Getty Images
Frequently Asked Questions
Of course Here is a list of FAQs about witnessing Rory McIlroys Masters victory written in a natural conversational tone
General Beginner Questions
Q Wait did Rory McIlroy actually win The Masters
A No not yet As of now Rory McIlroy has not won The Masters The statement imagines a future hypothetical scenario where he finally wins the tournament to complete the career Grand Slam
Q What is The Masters and why is it such a big deal
A The Masters is one of golfs four major championships held every April at Augusta National Golf Club in Georgia Its famous for its tradition the iconic green jacket awarded to the winner and its incredibly challenging and beautiful course
Q What does the ultimate moment refer to
A For Rory McIlroy the ultimate moment would be winning The Masters Its the only major championship he hasnt won Achieving this would mean he has won all four majors in his career cementing his legacy as one of golfs alltime greats
Q Why is it so important for Rory to win this specific tournament
A He has already won the US Open The Open Championship and the PGA Championship The Masters is the final piece he needs Hes been trying for over a decade with several close calls making it a huge personal and professional goal
Advanced ExperienceBased Questions
Q What makes being there in person different from watching on TV
A Being there engages all your sensesthe smell of the azaleas the sound of the crowd echoing through the Georgia pines the undulations of the greens you cant see on TV and the electric tension in the air on the back nine on Sunday Its an immersive experience
Q Where are the best spots to watch the critical action at Augusta
A Advanced fans often recommend
Amen Corner The heart of the courses drama
The grandstand behind the 16th green For iconic tee shots and potential playoffs
Walking with the final group To feel the momentum shift with every shot
