The 2025 Masters was truly one for the record books. From start to finish, patrons in attendance and viewers around the globe were treated to dramatic twists and turns in what ultimately resulted in one of the greatest triumphs in golf.
Rory McIlroy, a man long tormented by his shortcomings at Augusta National and major championships, finally conquered the course, the feat and most importantly himself to complete the career grand slam in his 11th try. It started like so many of McIlroy’s trips to the Masters with Thursday disappointment. After being doomed by one slow start after another in Augusta, Georgia (one first round in the 60s across his last 12 Masters starts coming in), McIlroy got out to a hot start, 4 under thru 14, and seemed poised to assert that this year was actually different. And then, the implosion.
He chipped into the water from behind the 15th green, leading to a double bogey, then compounded that with another double bogey on No. 17, erasing 14 holes of hard work in the span of three. After finishing his round at even par, McIlroy was largely written off. He sat seven strokes behind Justin Rose, who was trying to make his own bit of history at Augusta National.
Rose’s 65 on Thursday gave him a fifth 18-hole lead at the Masters, breaking a tie with Jack Nicklaus for the most first-round leads ever compiled at the tournament. Despite those hot starts, Rose had never captured the green jacket that has eluded him, his most bitter defeat coming in a playoff in 2017 to Sergio Garcia – the last time extra holes were played in Augusta.
Determined to change the course of his Masters career, Rose maintained his lead through Friday, though it had been trimmed to just one by a surging Bryson DeChambeau. As a popular (and polarizing) figure in the game, DeChambeau aimed to overcome his previously checkered past at Augusta National.
Improbably, right behind DeChambeau on Friday was a surging McIlroy, who posted the best round of the day with a 66. His performance underlined the excitement amongst the crowd at Augusta National. With the weekend’s arrival, the drama amplified. Both McIlroy and Rose’s attempts to conquer Augusta National produced electrifying moments that set the stage for an unforgettable finish.
In the final round, McIlroy and Rose’s standoff reached its peak when both players found themselves battling for the green jacket with incredible pressure on their backs. As McIlroy battled demons from previous years, he delivered both highs and lows on the course, culminating in a dramatic playoff shootout. Rose, fueled by recent misfortunes, rose to the occasion but ultimately could not overcome McIlroy’s fervor.
Finally, as the day came to a close, McIlroy sealed his triumph, ending the lengthy saga of past defeats, and added his name to the history books with his much-anticipated green jacket.
