Rory McIlroy turned one other main collapse into his grandest second of all, hitting a wedge into three toes for birdie in a sudden-death playoff Sunday to lastly win The Masters and take his place in golf historical past because the sixth participant to assert the profession Grand Slam.
What ought to have been a coronation for McIlroy alongside the again 9 at Augusta Nationwide was a heart-racing, lead-changing jaw-dropping end at golf’s biggest theater that ended with McIlroy on his knees sobbing with pleasure and disbelief.
“I began to surprise if it might ever be my time,” McIlroy mentioned in Butler Cabin earlier than Scottie Scheffler helped him into the inexperienced jacket.
It ended with extra heartache for Justin Rose, who misplaced to Sergio Garcia in a playoff in 2017 and compelled this one with a clutch 20-foot birdie on the 18th gap for a 6-under 66. He wound up becoming a member of Ben Hogan as the one gamers to lose twice in playoffs at Augusta Nationwide.
McIlroy misplaced a two-shot lead in two holes initially. He misplaced a four-shot lead on the again 9 in a matter of three holes with surprising misses, certainly one of them a wedge into the tributary of Rae’s Creek on the par-5 thirteenth.
And proper when it appeared as if he would blow one other main, McIlroy delivered two majestic photographs when nothing much less would do, two birdies that despatched him to the 18th gap with a one-shot lead. That also wasn’t sufficient. He missed a 5-foot par putt for a 1-over 73 and the primary Masters playoff in eight years.
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McIlroy’s wedge bounced onto the slope of the highest shelf with sufficient spin to trickle down to three toes. And when Rose missed from 15 toes, McIlroy lastly sealed it.
McIlroy went 11 lengthy years with out a main, figuring out the Masters inexperienced jacket was all that saved him from becoming a member of Tiger Woods, Jack Nicklaus, Gary Participant, Ben Hogan and Gene Sarazen as the one winners of golf’s 4 skilled majors.
McIlroy poses with The Masters trophy throughout the Inexperienced Jacket Ceremony at Augusta Nationwide Golf Membership on Sunday.
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GETTY IMAGES
McIlroy poses with The Masters trophy throughout the Inexperienced Jacket Ceremony at Augusta Nationwide Golf Membership on Sunday.
| Photograph Credit score:
GETTY IMAGES
He raised each arms and let the putter fall behind him, and earlier than lengthy he was on his knees, then his brow on the 18th inexperienced as his chest heaved with emotion.
So ended one of many wildest Sundays at a serious that’s recognized for them. US Open champion Bryson DeChambeau, who beat McIlroy at Pinehurst No. 2 final June, had the lead after two holes when McIlroy opened with a double bogey.
He crashed out with a pair of three-putts and two photographs into the water on the again 9, closing with a 75.
Ludvig Aberg, a runner-up in his Masters debut a yr in the past, all of the sudden had a share of the lead when McIlroy fell aside on the center of the again 9. He missed a birdie putt from the perimeter to take the lead, then completed bogey-triple bogey.
Rose had each cause to consider he threw away his possibilities on Saturday with a 75 that put him seven photographs behind, after which two bogeys on the entrance 9. At the same time as he steadied himself, he was 4 photographs again and operating out of time. He did his half in a 10-birdie spherical and that dynamic birdie putt to cap it off.
McIlroy helped in an enormous means.
Nothing was extra surprising than the thirteenth. McIlroy performed it secure, leaving himself an enormous goal and a lob wedge. He missed his mark by some 20 yards, the ball disappearing into the tributary of Rae’s Creek and resulting in double bogey.
Then got here a tee shot into the pine straw that led to a different bogey, and the lead was gone once more. However he was resilient as ever — he’s been like that his total profession. Seemingly in hassle left of the fifteenth fairway, McIlroy hit 7-iron across the timber and onto the inexperienced to six toes.
He missed the eagle putt — the birdie nonetheless helped him regain a share of the lead. Two holes later, dealing with a semi-blind shot, he drilled 8-iron and chased after it, urging it to “Go! Go! Go! Go!” And it did, barely clearing the bunker and rolling out to 2 toes for birdie and a one-shot lead.
Seems that wasn’t sufficient both. He hit right into a bunker from the golf green. He missed the 5-foot putt for the win. There was extra work to do. However the 35-year-old from Northern Eire by no means wavered in what he got here to Augusta Nationwide to do.
He leaves with a inexperienced jacket.