Rory completes career Grand Slam at Augusta

29-time PGA TOUR winner Rory McIlroy has long loomed over the pantheon of golf’s greatest, and on April 13, at the hallowed Augusta National Golf Club, he finally ascended. Rory became the sixth player in men’s golf history to complete the modern career Grand Slam with his playoff victory at the 89th Masters.

The 35-year-old from Northern Ireland secured his first Green Jacket after defeating 2016 Olympic Gold Medallist Justin Rose on the first playoff hole, joining the exclusive club alongside all-time greats Gene Sarazen, Ben Hogan, Gary Player, Jack Nicklaus, and Tiger Woods.

McIlroy, who held titles at the U.S. Open (2011), The Open Championship (2014), and the PGA Championship (2012 & 2014), achieved the Slam in his 17th Masters appearance and 11th attempt at completing the feat. This marked his 5th Major Championship title and 29th PGA TOUR victory. The win came after a decade-long wait since his last major win at the 2014 PGA Championship, cementing one of the most resilient journeys to golf’s most elusive achievement.

McIlroy closed with a final-round 71 to finish at 11-under 277, overcoming a double bogey on the first hole—becoming the first Masters winner to do so since Nick Faldo in 1990. 

Justin Rose, seeking his first Masters title in his 20th appearance, had opened the tournament with the outright lead. He rebounded from a third-round collapse, and matched McIlroy at 11-under to force a playoff. He became only the third player in Masters history to post multiple rounds of 66 or better in the same week and not win. Rose is now a three-time Masters runner-up (2015, 2017, 2025) and joined Ben Hogan as the only two players in history to lose two playoffs at Augusta.

Leaderboard:

POSITION	PLAYER	WINNINGS
1st	Rory McIlroy – 277 (-11)	$4.2 million
2nd	Justin Rose – 277 (-11)	$2.2 million
3rd	Patrick Reed – 279 (-9)	$1.4 million
4th	Scottie Scheffler – 280 (-8)	$1 million
T-5th	Sungjae Im – 281 (-7)	$798,000
T-5th	Bryson DeChambeau – 281 (-7)	$798,000

 

Ludvig Åberg of Sweden, returning after a runner-up finish in his Masters debut in 2024, placed 7th at -6. Xander Schauffele, Zach Johnson, Jason Day, and Corey Conners tied for 8th at -5.

No amateur made the cut this year, while 2023 champion Jon Rahm finished T14 at -3 alongside Bubba Watson, Jordan Spieth, and others.

McIlroy’s win also ended a run of four consecutive Masters titles won by players in their 20s and snapped a streak of seven straight men’s majors claimed by Americans.

McIlroy’s career milestones:

• First European to complete the modern Grand Slam
• First European to win five Major titles since Nick Faldo (1996)
• 22 Major rounds of 66 or lower—most among active Europeans
• Tied largest comeback in Masters history (covered a 7-stroke difference after Round 1)
• Fourth player in Masters history to eagle hole No. 2 in the third round and go on to win

With five Major titles, McIlroy joins a group of only 20 players in the modern era with that mark. He now holds the record for the longest time between first and last majors among active Grand Slam winners.

What comes with winning The Masters: 

1. The Green Jacket – Custom-tailored in “Augusta Green” (Pantone 342 C), worn by members since 1937, awarded to winners since 1949.
2. Engraving on the Masters Trophy – The main trophy, a sterling silver replica of the Augusta National clubhouse comprising over 900 individual pieces, stays at the club permanently. Introduced in 1961, it bears the engraved names of every champion on a silver band around its base.
3. Replica Trophy – Winners receive a smaller version of the Masters trophy—approximately 40% of the original in scale—as a keepsake for their own collection.
4. Masters Gold Medal – Dating back to the inaugural Masters in 1934, the gold medal predates both the trophy and the green jacket. It features a raised relief of the Augusta clubhouse and measures 3.5 inches in diameter.
5. Gold Locket – Presented during the Champions Dinner, the locket opens in three panels and displays a silhouette of the clubhouse. The presentation is made by two-time champion Ben Crenshaw.
6. Invitation to the Champions Dinner – Since 1952, Masters winners have gathered for the Champions Dinner, where the defending champion selects the evening’s menu. Participation is considered one of the most prestigious traditions in golf.
7. Honorary Membership at Augusta National – Masters champions receive honorary membership at Augusta, offering lifetime access to the club’s facilities.
8. Locker in the Champions Locker Room – Each champion is assigned a personalized locker in the Champions Locker Room at Augusta National.
9. Access to Champions-Only Range – During Masters week, past winners have exclusive access to a dedicated practice area reserved only for champions.
10. Lifetime Invitation to the Masters – The winner secures a lifetime invitation to return and compete in the tournament.
11. 100 Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR) Points + 750 FedExCup Points
12. $4.2 Million Winner’s Purse – From a record $21M prize fund; up from $1.6M in 2014, $20K in 1964
13. 5-Year Exemption to All Majors – Masters champions are automatically exempt into the other three majors—the U.S. Open, The Open Championship, and PGA Championship—for the next five years.
14. 5-Year PGA TOUR Exemption – Full status guaranteed for five seasons
15. Exclusive Sunday Tee Time – Each year, returning champions are invited to play a private round with a guest of their choice the Sunday before Masters week officially begins.

The 2nd Major Championship of the year, The PGA Championship, is slated to take place at Quail Hollow Club in North Carolina, from May 15-18.