Rory McIlroy picks the best shot he hit on the final day at The Masters on his way to clinching victory, ‘it was a huge moment’

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It is hard to imagine just 18 holes of golf could be so turbulent with Rory McIlroy winning, and then threatening to throw away, The Masters title on so many occasions on Sunday at Augusta National.

Rory McIlroy is indeed The Masters champion. With that, he finally has a fifth major and he has completed the career grand slam.

The Northern Irishman had a two-shot lead going into the final day. And ultimately, he holed the putt which ensured that he got across the line. But in between was some of the most dramatic golf the major championships have ever seen.

McIlroy lost the lead on a couple of occasions throughout the day, while he also played the kind of golf at times which reminded everyone why the career grand slam seemed to be his destiny. In many ways, it was symbolic of his entire career.

Rory McIlroy picks the best shot he hit during the final round of The Masters

Few will ever forget the approaches which he hit into 15 and 17. The second into the par five was audacious as he curved the ball around the trees and got the ball to land on the green in a way which almost evoked memories of how Bubba Watson set up his playoff win in 2012.

He had left himself well back off the tee on 17. And had you only listened to McIlroy, you would have assumed that he got his approach quite wrong. But that set up the birdie which put him back in front.

However, when asked to pick out the best shot he hit all day, McIlroy noted that there were two particularly crucial moments on the front nine.

“The best shot I hit today was — it could be the second on seven, but I think the most — one of the most important ones for me was the second shot on three,” he said

“You know, I started six, five. Hit a good tee shot on three. That’s not an easy second shot, bumping it up that hill. To judge that well and make a three there, when Bryson then made five, and then to go ahead and birdie the next hole, as well, I thought that was — you know, it was very early in the round, but it was a huge moment.”

Rory McIlroy shares where his Masters win ranks amongst his greatest moments

You only needed to look at how McIlroy celebrated his playoff win over Justin Rose to see just how massive the accomplishment truly was. In that moment, 11 years of anguish probably seemed worthwhile.

Unsurprisingly, McIlroy suggested that it was indeed one of the best days of his entire life.

“It’s up there. 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 yeah, I’m very proud of myself. I’m proud of never giving up. I’m proud of how I kept coming back and dusting myself off and not letting the disappointments really get to me. Talking about that eternal optimist again. Yeah, very proud.”

It was certainly fitting that arguably the greatest Masters in recent memory was won by surely the most talented player of this generation.