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Rory McIlroy completes wild Masters win, ignites social media with career grand slam complete
By Paul Harvey
Published:
The Masters has been the monkey on Rory McIlroy’s back throughout his career. But after years of heartache and near misses, McIlroy put things to bed on Sunday at Augusta National.
To be clear, it was far from easy or comfortable. In fact, McIlroy found himself in a similar position of years past after squandering a 4-stroke lead on the back 9 to fall into a tie with Justin Rose. The final outcome would need a playoff to be decided, but how McIlroy even got to the playoff is extraordinary in itself.
McIlroy delivered multiple shots of his life down the final stretch, including a majestic shot around the bend and over the water on the 15th, finding the green with a beautiful shot. Here’s a look at that shot, complete with a beautiful call by Jim Nantz.
McIlroy followed that up with a beautiful approach on No. 17, a shot that allowed him a birdie and to enter the final hole with a 1-stroke lead:
McIlroy eventually bogeyed No. 18 to complete his round and fall into a playoff with Rose. But on that playoff hole, McIlroy was spot on with his shots, and this time he did not let a birdie bird escape him.
Here’s how it all went down:
Not only is it memorable for any golfer to win The Masters, but this one carries extra special significance for McIlroy. The win completes his career grand slam as the final major to escape his grasp, giving him his 5th major title but his first at The Masters to go with the PGA Championship (2012, 2014), the US Open (2011) and The Open Championship (2014).
McIlroy is just the 6th PGA player all-time to complete a career grand slam, joining Gene Sarazen, Ben Hogan, Gary Player, Jack Nicklaus and Tiger Woods. Woods was the last to achieve the accomplishment in 2000, and he was the first since the 1960s to achieve the feat.
Understandably, the drama of Sunday ignited social media with fans far and wide chiming in for the moment. Take a look:
Paul Harvey lives in Atlanta and covers SEC football.
