Rory McIlroy has cemented his place in golf history by winning The Masters for the first time, defeating Justin Rose in a dramatic sudden-death playoff at Augusta National Golf Club on Sunday, April 13.
The 35-year-old Northern Irish golfer needed just one playoff hole to claim victory, earning $4.2 million from the tournament’s $21 million purse. More significantly, this win completes McIlroy’s career Grand Slam, making him only the sixth golfer to achieve this prestigious milestone.
McIlroy joins the elite company of Jack Nicklaus, Ben Hogan, Gary Player, Gene Sarazen, and Tiger Woods—who was the last to complete the Grand Slam in 2000. This historic achievement ends a 25-year wait for a new member in golf’s most exclusive club.
The Masters, distinctive among major tournaments for its sudden-death playoff format, provided the perfect stage for McIlroy to finally capture the championship that had eluded him throughout his career.
