Exciting play-off with England's Justin Rose

Surprising, unexpected and absolutely delightful!  These are just a few words that describe Rory McIlroy’s tremendous victory after a play-off with Justin Rose in the 89th edition of the Masters at Augusta National, Georgia in America (10-13 April).

 

The 35-year old from Northern Ireland clinched the first Major of the season after a spectacular sudden-death play-off with England’s Justin Rose.  With this victory McIlroy has finally won the career Grand Slam of winning all four Majors and that is pretty rare in the world of golf.  It was his 11th attempt to achieve this.  He now joins the elite group of Gene Sarazen, Ben Hogan, Tiger Woods, Jack Nicklaus and Gary Player who have all completed the magic four.

 

Rory McIlroy began his final round at Augusta National with a two-shot lead over American Bryson DeChambeau.  His third round got off to a fabulous start after shooting an incredible six threes on the first six holes to card a 12-under par.  However, Sunday was a completely different day.  It saw McIlroy amazingly three-putt the first hole for a double-bogey six.  His playing partner Bryson DeChambeau holed a metre putt for par.  Rather unexpectedly the two were now joint leaders on 10-under.  Masters victory for McIlroy was looking rather uncertain.

 

On the second hole, DeChambeau made a birdie from two metres to clinch the lead on his own at 11-under par.  McIlroy then retaliated on the third with a birdie to share the lead with DeChambeau.  This was going to be a very interesting final round.  Perhaps even one for the history books.

 

 

 

McIlroy then made a birdie at the 3rd to share the lead with DeChambeau but the American bogeyed the hole when he missed a short putt.  The player from Northern Ireland had the lead again on 11-under.

 

On the 4th luckily for McIlroy he made another birdie while DeChambeau dropped a shot.  Status?  McIlroy 12-under; DeChambeau 9-under.  Amazingly the final round had seen three two-shot swings in first four holes.  Not only that but other big names in the Masters were holing putts galore like England’s Justin Rose, defending champion Scottie Scheffler and last year’s newcomer from Sweden Ludvig Aberg.

 

After nine holes, McIlroy on 13-under was four shots clear of three players: DeChambeau, Rose and Aberg.

 

Rose shines at the Masters

 

Justin Rose, the 2013 US Open Champion and the 2016 Olympic Gold Medallist, made a great impression at the 13th when his ball nudged the hole for eagle.  However, his birdie got him to 10-under for second place on his own.

 

On the 10th hole, McIlroy was really on fire when he holed an enormous putt for birdie to get to 14-under.  The 2025 Masters title looked to be within his grasp.  However, first the players had to encounter ‘Amen Corner’ (the 11th, 12th and 13th) where the hopes of many a good card were often dashed.

 

The American’s second shot went into the water at the 11th which cost DeChambeau a disappointing 7.  McIlroy dropped a shot here too reducing his lead to 13-under.  Ahead, on the 13th, Aberg then sunk a beautiful putt for birdie to seize the second spot with Justin Rose.  This was super news for Europe as there were now three Europeans leading the 2025 Masters.

 

A few minutes later McIlroy played-up short at the 13th and then, rather surprisingly, hit his third shot in the water just before the green.  It cost him a double-bogey reducing his lead to 11-under.

 

 

 

Meanwhile, Justin Rose was finding his confidence again at Augusta National.  On the 16th he made another birdie to grab the lead again with McIlroy on 11-under par.  Aberg birdied the 15th to seize third place on his own.  Play at Augusta National was really hotting-up!

 

McIlroy then made a bogey to drop back to a share of second place with Aberg.  Justin Rose was at the top of the leaderboard on 11-under but then he bogeyed the 17th which meant a three-way tie on 10-under par between Rose, McIlroy and Aberg.

 

Rory goes for glory

 

McIlroy hit a superb second shot at the par-5 15th which landed about two metres from the flag.  Can he hole this putt for eagle?  No, but it was excruciatingly close.  His birdie saw him snatch the lead again on 11-under par.

 

Justin Rose then holed a long putt across the 18th green for birdie.  The Englishman was really back in the picture having created a tie with McIlroy on 11-under.

 

American Patrick Reed, who was in fourth spot after three rounds with Aberg, holed his second shot at the 17th to shoot-up the leaderboard to 9-under par.  A few minutes later McIlroy had a splendid shot here too leaving himself a tap-in for birdie and a score of 12-under on his own.  All he needs now is a steady par down the final hole to win the 2025 Masters and claim his career Grand Slam.

 

 

 

McIlroy hit a good drive down the 18th and then lined-up to hit the green in two.  However, surprise, surprise, his second shot finished in the bunker to the right of the green.  Justin Rose was quietly practising just in case there would be a play-off.  McIlroy just needed to splash out of the bunker and hole the putt for victory.  Now that is sometimes easier said than done.

 

McIlroy splashed out to about one metre … and then, missed the putt!  Yes, sadly for McIlroy he was now in a play-off with Justin Rose – the 11th sudden-death play-off since 1979.

 

The 18th hole was designated as the first play-off hole which was perhaps pretty daunting for Rory McIlroy after missing out on his par here a while earlier.  Yet Justin Rose had quietly been practising just in case there would be a play-off.  And here was the Englishman’s chance to secure victory in the Masters.

 

Both players produced two super shots onto the green.  First Justin Rose to about four metres from the flag.  Then McIlroy peppered the hole from less than a metre.  Rose was due to putt first.  The 44-year old had just holed a super putt on the 18th green in regular play, could he withstand the pressure again to hole-out for birdie?  He struck the putt which just took a dive to the right and missed the hole.

 

Then, without too much ado, McIlroy stood over his short putt and holed it to finally become the 2025 Masters Champion.  The moment was absolutely amazing for the 35-year old Northern Irishman.  He broke down in tears on the 18th green in relief.  He had waited many years for this moment to win the career Grand Slam and become the 89th Masters Champion – wonderful!

 

Rory McIlroy is now the proud owner of a covetted Green Jacket together with a handsome prize of 3,722.115 euros.

 

May we join the world in congratulating Rory McIlroy on his 2025 Masters victory!

 

 

Wendy Hoad

Editor

 

 

THE TOP-10 IN THE 2025 MASTERS:

1. Rory McIlroy (Northern Ireland) 11-under won in a play-off with Justin Rose (England) 11-under; 3. Patrick Reed (USA) 9-under; 4. Scottie Scheffler (USA) 8-under;  T5. Bryson DeChambeau (USA), Sungjae Im (South Korea) 7-under;  7. Ludvig Aberg (Sweden) 6-under;  T8 Corey Conners (Canada), Jason Day (Australia), Zach Johnson (USA) and Xander Schauffele (USA) 5-under.

 

 

MAIN PHOTOGRAPH:  A very proud Rory McIlroy who won the 2025 Masters after a sudden-death play-off with England’s Justin Rose.  CENTRE (l-r): Bryson DeChambeau and Rory McIlroy.  Rory McIlroy and Justin Rose.  MINIS (l-r): Patrick Reed and Corey Conners.