Rory McIlroy is The Masters champion, a five-time major champion, and the sixth grand slam winner in the game’s modern history.
Even with Rory McIlroy starting the day with a two shot lead and ending the day with a green jacket, few could have ever imagined just what it would take for the Northern Irishman to get across the line at The Masters.
McIlroy initially threw away his lead on the first hole before seemingly taking complete charge of the tournament once again leading up to the turn.
An unforced error on the 13th hole completely opened up the race again. Nevertheless, he still had a putt on the last to win inside 72 holes. However, when that putt slid by, it meant that a playoff with Justin Rose was needed.
Sir Nick Faldo reacts as Rory McIlroy wins The Masters
Ultimately, a birdie on the second time walking the 18th hole was enough. McIlroy let 11 years of emotion and pain out in the aftermath, collapsing to his knees in front of the spot which had secured his spot in golfing immorality.
The 35-year-old has been on the cusp of winning the career grand slam for 11 years. And in truth, he has never really got that close to winning at Augusta over the last decade.
But this year was different. And speaking on Sky Sports (broadcast on 14/4), Sir Nick Faldo hinted that he never expected to see someone else join the likes of Jack Nicklaus and Tiger Woods in one of the game’s most exclusive clubs.
“I will tell you what. I said when Tiger won [in 2019], I blurted out how we will never see a scene like this again at The Masters. I am very pleased to say that I am wrong. Because that for a man to win the Grand Slam after so much heartache for 10 plus years now and how he has dealt with it and produced it today in the most riveting and agonising emotions we have all ever been through,” he said.
“I want to give him a smack round the face for that! But also a big kiss! Because that is unbelievable.”
The grand slam winners Rory McIlroy joins with victory at Augusta National
There have been five previous winners of the career grand slam, with Gene Sarazen the first player to have won all four of the current majors.
Meanwhile, Ben Hogan and Gary Player would also achieve that feat before they were joined by Nicklaus and Woods. Woods, of course, managed to hold all four major titles at the same time, with The Tiger Slam culminating in victory at the 2001 Masters.
It always appeared that McIlroy was best placed to join them one day. But it is scarcely believable that he has finally got across the line.
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