One thing you can say with certainty after the final round of the 2025 Masters was that Rory McIlroy was determined to make sure his charge towards the green jacket was never going to be boring.
Rory McIlroy has finally won The Masters. The career grand slam is complete. And now, you would imagine that McIlroy has been freed up to win several more majors over the remainder of his career.
But there were plenty of occasions on Sunday at Augusta National where McIlroy looked to be determined to throw it away. He made a double bogey on the first hole, while he needlessly found the water on the 13th.
It certainly was not an overly convincing performance from the 35-year-old, who needed a playoff with Justin Rose to get across the line.
Rory McIlroy admits concern about ‘unusual’ hole at Augusta during the final round of The Masters
Rose would have been written off by many heading into the final day, with plenty expecting a showdown between McIlroy and Bryson DeChambeau. But the Englishman, along with Ludvig Aberg, put up the strongest fight.
At one stage late on in the round, Rose led the tournament. And it seems that McIlroy was feeling slightly apprehensive about what was to come for him as he made his way towards the clubhouse.
Speaking to the media after his triumph, McIlroy explained why he had a few concerns about the final par three of the round.
“I thought I played the 13th hole smartly for the first two shots. Three wood off the tee, laid it up to a good position. I had 82 yards to the pin. It went into a little valley and was on the up slope. Usually when I hit wedges on up slopes they come out a little left on me. I gave myself a couple of yards of room to the right. I wasn’t aiming at the creek but it came out a little weak and right. So to make double there when it’s a birdie chance and seeing what Rosey and Ludvig were doing at the time as well. But at the same time I knew I had 15 to play. The bogey did not help on 14 either. But I still felt after the tee shot on 15 I was still in it,” he said.
“I think the one hole I was, not worried about, but it was in the back of my mind was 16. That was an unusual pin on 16, probably for the 50th anniversary of Jack holing that in 1975. So that was the one. That’s a very difficult hole location and to hit the shot I did. I think the iron shots I hit coming in, 15, 16, 17 and not at the last in regulation but in the playoff, I made a lot of good iron swings and I think over the last, I don’t know how many years, it seems the people who lead approach at this tournament usually go on to win or have a very good chance and I think for the most part my approach play was very good. That showed on the last few holes.”
Fans divided by Augusta National’s decision before Sunday’s round
It was strange to see the 16th adopt a back right pin for Sunday. Previously, the flag has been much closer to the water on the left-hand side; offering opportunities for players to get extremely close off the tee.
Plenty of fans expressed a dislike for the decision to move the 16th pin this year. But Augusta was vindicated with some phenomenal drama, including Rose making a birdie and McIlroy subsequently giving himself a brilliant chance to match it.
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