THE agonising wait is over for Grand Slam glory is finally over – but only after Rory McIlroy put his army of fans through the Major mincer yet again.
McIlroy did his best to throw away a Masters he had in an iron grip for most of the final day at Augusta, with a rampant Justin Rose eager to seize a green jacket he has been sizing up for the last ten years.
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It went to a play-off between the Ryder Cup team-mates, after McIlroy had missed a five footer for par on the 72nd green that would have erased the need for overtime.
At the first play-off hole, Rose looked to have turned the screw by hitting his approach shot to around 15 feet – only for McIlroy to fire his second shot to within a yard of the flag.
Rose knew he had to make his putt to stay alive in the play-off – but watches in agony as it slid to the right of the hole.
Surely McIlroy could not waste a second golden chance to claim that elusive green jacket. Could he.
Thankfully not. And the relieved superstar clutched his head, sank to his knees and wept openly on the Augusta turf.
It took a few seconds before he could get to his feet and embrace caddie Harry Diamond, and the unfortunate Rose.
A great Masters, and a great winner. What more could you ask for?
Rose has now finished second three times at Augusta – and in a pulsating climax he was not the only danger, as McIlroy seemed determined to prolong the agony for his army of supporters for as long as possible.
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Last year’s runner-up Ludvig Aberg was also snapping at McIlroy’s heels in a finish that had everyone on the edge of their seats.
But after throwing away a four shot lead on the back nine – largely because of a couple of bizarre decisions at the par five 13th – McIlroy produced two moments of brilliance that rescued him from another Masters meltdown.
The first came at the par five 15th, a hole where McIlroy was cursing after a double bogey on day one, and celebrating after a brilliant eagle in the third round.
Twenty four hours earlier, McIlroy took aim from 220 yards and hit his second shot to within six feet of the flag, before casually stroking home the pout.
This time, after finding himself in a three-way tie for the lead with Rose and Aberg, McIlroy was 11 yards closer to the green.
But his approach shot came out exactly the same, a thing of beauty that landed softly on the green and finished two yards from the target.
With so much at stake, McIlroy was far more cautious with the putter, and prodded it to within kick-in range for the birdie that put him back on top of the leaderboard.
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But there was another twist to come, as Rose rammed home a twenty footer for birdie at the last to join McIlroy on 11 under par.
So it was over to you again Rory, who knew any mistakes over the final three holes could prove fatal for his hopes of finally ending his 11 year wait for the only Major that had eluded him so far.
McIroy, 35, has become an avid Bridgerton fan during the build-up to this Masters. If the popular period drama could generate this level of excitement it would double its ratings.
After a par at 16, McIlroy found the magic touch again with another glorious approach to the 17th.
Everyone at Augusta – and millions of Rory fans hiding behind the sofas in front of their TVs – held their breath as he stood over the four footer for birdie.
In it went, the patrons here erupted, and McIlroy himself puffed out his cheeks in relief.
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That meant he had to make par at the last to deny Rose a play-off. But he found a bunker with his second shot, and when he splashed out he was faced with the putt every golfer dreams of – a five footer to win the Masters.
McIlroy fluffed his lines, but somehow he conquered those jangling play-off nerves nerves and got the job done.
And he has finally taken his appointed place in golf’s most elite society, as his one shot victory made him only the sixth player to complete the career Grand Slam.
Eleven years after his last of his four previous Major triumphs, golf’s golden boy has been re-born as a seasoned warrior.
It has been a long and painful journey for McIlroy to join Jack Nicklaus, Tiger Woods, Gary Player, Ben Hogan and Gene Sarazen as the only golfers to have their names on all four Major trophies.
In typical McIlroy fashion, there was also an almighty early wobble to overcome, and a crazy back nine decision that cost him a third double bogey of the week.
But it was worth it in the end.
And even though the world rankings will not acknowledge the fact just yet – because they are based on results over two years – the world No 2 is definitely the finest golfer on the planet.
He has now won three times in the States already. World No 1 and defending champion Scottie Scheffler – who finished here – is yet to open his account
This victory was the ultimate roller-coaster as McIlroy played the first two holes to surrender the two shot lead he started with, conjured up four birdies to get it back, and then threatened to throw it away at 13.
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After deciding not to go for the green in two, he took direct aim at the flag instead of playing to the centre of the green, to give himself a long birdie putt. It would have taken six – or seven! – out of the equation.
But he was clearly not thinking straight – and he did not hit a straight shot either.
His ball bounced off the bank into Rae’s Creek, and McIllroy signed for a seven.
That opened the door for Rose, who had come storming out of the pack.
The dogged English star’s belief that he could still add to his 2013 US Open victory even though he is now 44 was so nearly vindicated.
His closing 66 was worthy of winning any Major. He played the final 12 holes in six under par – combining EIGHT birdies with a couple of bogeys.
But in the end it was only good enough for him to finish second best, just as he did in 2025 and 2017.
This was McIlroy’s time. Eventually!