Rory McIlroy wrote history. As the sixth player, he won all majors in golf. The victory in the playoff against Justin Rose was not to be beaten in drama.
When it was over, Rory McIlroy threw the racket behind him, fell on his knees and hid his head, leaning on the green, between his arms. The hours of tension gave way, the load for many years was forgotten in one fell swoop.
Thousands of fans around the 18th hole cheered, “Rory, Rory” calls tuned in, while the reddish sun was already sinking behind the pine on the Augusta National Golf Club in the US. Then McIlroy jumped up, threw his white peaked cap on himself, roared his joy and a little later hit his daughter Poppy.
Nerve -wracking Final day
The northern end can call itself Masters champion. Finally. Even more: With his victory at the most prestigious tournament in the world, Mcilroy completed his career Grand Slam. As the sixth player ever, he was able to win all four majors in the golf at least once. Mcilroy is finally one of the greatest golfers in history.
“It feels incredible. I had already started to doubt if I would ever win it here”said Mcilroy. “I’m incredibly proud.” He could hardly control his facial features in the winner’s face. The final day at the Masters had been too nerve -wracking. The decision for victory was no less than a drama, the most exciting in many years.
Weak start in the final round
McIlroy started the final day as the leading one – together with the American Bryson Decimbeau as the last duo, with two strokes. But already on the first hole McIlroy allowed himself a mistake that cost him his lead. After the second hole, Dechameau led McIlroy already lost the top position.
Memories became awake of so many final rounds in big tournaments in the past eleven years, in which Mcilroy had looked like the safe winner before he kept failing his nerves. In 2014 McIlroy had recently been able to win a major. But far too often the world -class player had brought himself for titles.
Mcilroy’s nervous costume a permanent topic
Especially in Augusta, at the only major tournament that McIlroy had not yet won. In 2011 he had comfortably managed before the final day before he still had his lead with some heartbreaking mistakes. The spectacle repeated itself over the years. McIlroy regularly failed at the final round at big tournaments.
“I was incredibly nervous”said Mcilroy after the redeeming victory. “I am very proud of how I reacted to all the setbacks.” There were many setbacks. Not just on the first hole. Because after the northern end caught up quickly and looking up to the 13th hole like the already safe winner, this was followed by the unexplained pattern for Mcilroy.
Suddenly Justin Rose leads
The world ranking runners -up hit the ball into the water, lost two strokes and also failed on the next hole. The comfortable leadership that he had again won was gone. Suddenly the Englishman just led Justin Rose, who was able to catch up with seven strokes on McIlroy with an outstanding round on the final day.
The decision for victory took the tension to the extreme. McIlroy recovered with a blow on the demanding hole 15, while Rose delighted the fans on the last green with an approximately four meter long putt into the hole. McIlroy countered again and had the chance to make the victory with a hole test from around one meter a little later as the last golfer of the field.
The northern end pushed the ball just over, it went into the jump -off. Back on the 18th train. And while Rose ended the hole with a place standard and four blows, McIlroy delivered this time in the pressure situation. After an outstanding attempt to approach, this time he secured it safely from about one meter.
Demons defeated and forgotten
The demons and doubts from eleven long years – defeated and forget. All setbacks from over a decade – suddenly irrelevant. “I have been overwhelmed by the emotions. A moment like today, makes all the years and the many decisions that were made against me”said McIlroy.
According to Gene Saracen, Ben Hogan, Gary Player, Jack Nicklaus and Tiger Woods, the 35-year-old has achieved Grand Slam career. His victory in Augusta was highly exciting and dramatic. But somehow typical Rory McIlroy.