Rory McIlroy wins 2025 Masters playoff for career grand slam

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Craig Nigrelli Anchor/Reporter

By Craig Nigrelli (Anchor/Reporter), Shea Taylor (Producer), Kaleb Gillespie (Video Editor)

Rory McIlroy secured his first green jacket with a playoff win over Justin Rose at Augusta, completing golf’s career Grand Slam. The victory gave McIlroy his fifth major title and his first in 11 years.
McIlroy became the first European to win all four modern majors and the sixth man overall to do so.
He next heads to Quail Hollow for the PGA Championship, aiming to carry momentum into The Open at Royal Portrush.

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Rory McIlroy captured his first Masters title Sunday, April 13, in a sudden-death playoff against Justin Rose, completing the career Grand Slam. McIlroy led by four strokes on the back nine but faltered with a double bogey on 13 and a bogey on 14. He rallied with solid play down the stretch but missed a five-foot putt to win in regulation.

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In the playoff, McIlroy hit his second shot on the 18th hole to within four feet and sank the birdie putt for the win. He became the sixth man to win all four modern major championships.

A storybook ending to a lifelong pursuit.

Rory McIlroy is the 2025 Masters champion and one of six players to ever capture the career Grand Slam. #themasters pic.twitter.com/iax1WllciF
— The Masters (@TheMasters) April 14, 2025

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What is the significance of McIlroy’s Grand Slam?

McIlroy joined Jack Nicklaus, Tiger Woods, Gary Player, Gene Sarazen and Ben Hogan as the only players to win the Masters, U.S. Open, Open Championship and PGA Championship. His 11 attempts to win at Augusta after securing the third leg in 2014 make his journey the longest among the group.

History is made. The career Grand Slam is complete. pic.twitter.com/iRntMwFVbg
— The Masters (@TheMasters) April 14, 2025

It was also his first major title in 11 years, placing him among five men to win majors more than a decade apart. He’s the first European to complete the Grand Slam and the first to win five majors since Nick Faldo in 1992.

How did McIlroy perform statistically during the Masters?

McIlroy’s tournament was a mix of highs and lows. He carded four double bogeys — two on Sunday — but led the field in strokes gained on approach shots. McIlroy made 30 birdies, a Masters record, and hit only 35 fairways for the week, the fewest by a champion since 2013.

Rory McIlroy gave everything. #themasters pic.twitter.com/Iv38QeVTbm
— The Masters (@TheMasters) April 13, 2025

He tied the largest comeback in Masters history, erasing a seven-shot deficit in the final round.

What happened in the playoff against Justin Rose?

Rose forced the playoff with a birdie on the 18th, finishing with 10 birdies in his final round — one shy of the tournament record. It marked his third runner-up finish at Augusta. He became the second player to lose two Masters playoffs and has now led or co-led after 11 Masters rounds.

Justin Rose sets the Clubhouse lead with a Sunday 66. #themasters pic.twitter.com/YupKW0xHyp
— The Masters (@TheMasters) April 13, 2025

Rose’s rounds of 65 and 66 placed him among just three players to shoot multiple 66s or better and not win the Masters.

How did other players perform in the final round?

Patrick Reed finished third after making the only eagle of the week at the 17th hole. He was one of just two players to shoot under par in all four rounds and continues to lead in short-game strokes gained at Augusta since 2018.

Bryson DeChambeau faded on Sunday, finishing with a 75. Poor approach play prevented him from contending despite earlier rounds that kept him in the mix.

What does the win mean for McIlroy’s future?

McIlroy said the long-awaited win eased pressure and would allow him to play more freely. He next competes at the PGA Championship at Quail Hollow, where he has four career wins. The last player to win the Masters and PGA in the same season was Nicklaus in 1975.

McIlroy also looks ahead to The Open Championship at Royal Portrush in July, hoping to add to his success on home soil.

Tags: golf, Masters, PGA

[craig nigrelli]

FINALLY, I HOPE YOU SAW THE MASTERS FINISH ON SUNDAY. WHAT DRAMA.

RORY MCILROY HAD A FOUR SHOT LEAD ON THE BACK NINE, BUT A DOUBLE-BOGEY ON 13, FOLLOWED BY A BOGEY ON HOLE 14 AND SUDDENLY IT SEEMED LIKE THE TOURNAMENT WAS SLIPPING AWAY.

BUT MCILROY RALLIED LATE AND MADE A FEW GREAT SHOTS, DOWN THE STRETCH. HE HAD A FIVE-FOOT PUTT TO WIN THE MASTERS ON THE 18TH HOLE, BUT MISSED IT.

HE AND JUSTIN ROSE THEN WENT TO A PLAYOFF WHERE MCILROY MADE AN INCREDIBLE SECOND SHOT, IN SUDDEN DEATH ON 18, TO COME WITHIN FOUR FEET OF THE HOLE.

THIS TIME **HE MADE THE PUTT** AND WON THE MASTERS.

RORY MCILROY BECOMES JUST THE SIX PLAYER IN GOLF TO WIN ALL FOUR MAJOR TITLES, JOINING THE LIKES OF JACK NICKLAUS AND TIGER WOODS.