It took 14 years, countless close calls and some serious mental strength, but Rory McIlroy has finally done it. The Northern Irish golfer won the US Masters on Sunday night, clinching the last remaining piece of the elusive career Grand Slam, a feat only six male golfers in history have ever achieved.
But hang on. What is a career Grand Slam?
What’s all the fuss about?
In golf, there are four major tournaments that players dream of winning: the US Masters, the US Open, the Open Championship (often called the British Open), and the PGA Championship. Win just one, and you’re a star. Win all four at some point in your career? That’s called the career Grand Slam, a rare achievement that instantly places you among the sport’s all-time greats.
With this win at Augusta National (the iconic course that hosts the tournament each April), McIlroy joins the elite club alongside Tiger Woods, Jack Nicklaus, Gary Player (our very own South African golfing legend), Ben Hogan and Gene Sarazen.
A green jacket 14 years in the making
McIlroy’s win didn’t come easy. In fact, it nearly slipped through his fingers again. He started the final round with a two-stroke lead but double-bogeyed the very first hole. Despite the rocky start, he rallied, making enough birdies to build a four-stroke lead by the 13th hole.
But then came another stumble. A costly double bogey at the par-five 13th and more dropped shots saw that lead vanish. A bogey on the final hole meant McIlroy finished tied with England’s Justin Rose at 11 under par, forcing a sudden-death play-off – a high-stakes tie-break where the first player to win a hole outright takes the title.
For the non-golfers: each hole has a “par”, the number of shots it should take a skilled golfer to complete it. A birdie means you did one shot better than par. A bogey means you took one extra. A double bogey? Two extra. These terms may sound cute, but when you’re competing at the highest level, a bogey can be brutal.
The playoff: no room for mistakes
In a sudden-death playoff, players go head-to-head on a hole. Whoever wins the hole first wins the tournament.
Returning to the 18th hole, McIlroy fired a near-perfect shot to within a few feet of the hole and made the birdie putt. Rose couldn’t match it. Game over.
Cue the tears, the crowd chanting, and McIlroy collapsing to his knees in emotional relief.
Breaking the curse
For McIlroy, the Masters has long been the one that got away. He first came close in 2011, holding a four-shot lead going into the final round before collapsing under pressure. Since then, he’s collected four majors; the US Open in 2011, the PGA Championship twice (2012 and 2014), and the Open in 2014. Despite his victories over the years, the Green Jacket (the symbol of a Masters win) has haunted him. Until now.
“It feels incredible,” he said after being presented with the traditional Green Jacket. “This is my 17th time here, and I started to wonder if it would ever be my time.”
“[There was] a lot of pent-up emotion that just came out on the 18th green. A moment like that makes all the years and close calls worth it,” he added.
A story of resilience
The win ends an 11-year drought in major titles for the 35-year-old. Over the past few years, he’s had multiple close calls, notably at the Open in 2022 and the US Open in 2023 and 2024, but he just couldn’t quite get over the line.
“I’ve carried that burden since August 2014,” said McIlroy. “Not just about winning my next major, but the career Grand Slam.”
He admitted he had moments on Sunday where he thought, “Have I let this slip again?” But ultimately, he pulled off the shots when it mattered most.
Not just a win – a legacy
In the end, McIlroy’s win wasn’t just a triumph of talent; it was a testament to perseverance, patience and personal growth. He’s spoken openly in the past about how hard it’s been to keep coming back after crushing defeats, how much the Masters meant to him, and how difficult it was to carry the expectations of a Grand Slam on his shoulders.
Now that weight has been lifted.
“I’m not going to compare it to life moments like a marriage or having a child,” he said, “but it’s the best day of my golfing life.”
And for the young fans watching, McIlroy had a message: “I have literally made my dreams come true, so if you work hard enough you can achieve anything.”
After 14 years of chasing that dream, Rory McIlroy now has his Green Jacket and a place in golfing history.
Emma is a freshly graduated Journalist from Stellenbosch University, who also holds an Honours in history. She joined the explain team, eager to provide thorough and truthful information and connect with her generation.
