Rory McIlroy has completed a career Grand Slam in golf with his win at the US Masters tournament.
The Masters was the last major tournament left for McIlroy to complete the modern golf Grand Slam – a feat only five others have managed before him.
McIlroy, who was making his 11th attempt at completing the Grand Slam, faced off Justin Rose in a sudden-death playoff to decide the Masters champion, after they finished tied on 11 under at the end of regulation on Sunday.
Overcome with emotion, McIlroy drops to his knees after beating Justin Rose in the sudden-death playoff. Pic: AP
‘So hard to stay patient’
Speaking at a press conference after his victory, McIlroy said: “You have to be the eternal optimist in this game.
“I have been saying it until I am blue in the face but I truly believe I am a better player now than 10 year ago.
“It is so hard to stay patient, keep coming back and not being able to get it done.
“There were points on the back nine where I thought, ‘have I let this slip again?’ but I responded and am really proud of myself.
“It has been an emotional week so I am thrilled to be last man standing.”
Just before slipping on a coveted green jacket during the presentation ceremony, the Northern Irishman said: “It’s my 17th time here and I started to wonder if it would ever be my time.
“I’m just absolutely honoured and thrilled and just so proud to be able to call myself a Masters champion.”
McIlroy had missed his six-foot putt for par, a bogey which dropped him back to 11 under, where he joined Rose – leading to a dramatic playoff between the two.
Only five other golfers have been able to complete a career Grand Slam – Tiger Woods, Jack Nicklaus, Gary Player, Ben Hogan and Gene Sarazen.
McIlroy is a two-time winner of the PGA Championship, claiming the prize in 2012 and 2014.
The 35-year-old also won his first major title, the US Open, in 2011, and won the Open Championship in 2014.
How did McIlroy clinch victory?
McIlroy recovered from losing his overnight two-shot advantage with an opening-hole double bogey to initially take control at Augusta National, only to blow a four-shot lead over his closing six holes.
The world number two bogeyed the last to close a one-over 73 and slip back to 11 under alongside Rose, who overturned a seven-stroke deficit and posted a stunning final-round 66 to force a playoff.
Members of McIlroy’s Holywood Golf Club in County Down, Belfast, watch on as he competes in the Masters. Pic: PA
The players returned to the 18th for the playoff, where McIlroy made amends for his 72nd-hole blunder by firing a stunning approach to within three feet of the pin and making the birdie putt required for the win.
After the winning putt dropped, McIlroy raised his arms towards the sky and let his putter fall behind him as he dropped to his knees overcome with emotion.
He then embraced his wife Erica and daughter Poppy as chants of “Rory! Rory!” rang out around the green.
‘Hard to put into words’
Tony Denver, who was among those watching McIlroy from his home club in Hollywood, County Down, told Sky News it was “hard to put into words” how he was feeling following the play-off, as crowds in the background cheered and applauded the world’s number two golf player.
Tony Denver
Mr Denver went on to say the feeling was “absolutely fantastic”, adding he remembers McIlroy “from a young lad growing up and he’s now one of the six players to win the Grand Slam which is just unbelievable”.
Ruth Watt, lady captain of Holywood golf club, said: “We are all immensely proud, absolutely delighted to be welcoming Rory back home in that green jacket. He has put us through the ringer tonight but what an outcome.”
Ruth Watt
She added: “There was always something very special about the golf that he played but he is such a gentleman and such a lovely, lovely person.”
For the club it’s just “phenomenal”, she said.
This story originally appeared on Skynews
