Rory McIlroy’s victory in the US Masters competition completes his career Grand Slam in golf.
Only five people have accomplished the modern golf Grand Slam before McIlroy, and the Masters was the final major event he needed to win.
After finishing tied on 11 under at the completion of regulation on Sunday, McIlroy, who was attempting his eleventh Grand Slam, met Justin Rose in a sudden-death playoff to determine the winner of the Masters.
Overcome with emotion, McIlroy drops to his knees after beating Justin Rose in the sudden-death playoff.
“Very difficult to remain patient.”
“You have to be the eternal optimist in this game,” McIlroy stated at a news conference following his triumph.
“I genuinely think I am a better player now than I was ten years ago, and I have been repeating it till I am exhausted.
“Remaining patient, returning time and time again, and failing to finish the task is really difficult.
On the back nine, there were moments when I wondered, ‘Have I let this slip again?’ but I answered, and I’m quite pleased of myself.
“It has been an emotional week so I am thrilled to be last man standing.”
“It’s my 17th time here and I started to wonder if it would ever be my time,” the Northern Irishman said at the award ceremony, just before donning a much-coveted green jacket.
“I’m just absolutely honoured and thrilled and just so proud to be able to call myself a Masters champion.”
Rose and McIlroy played a thrilling playoff after McIlroy missed his six-foot putt for par, a bogey that sent him back to 11 under.
Only five other golfers—Tiger Woods, Jack Nicklaus, Gary Player, Ben Hogan, and Gene Sarazen—have accomplished the career Grand Slam.
The two-time PGA Championship champion McIlroy won the title in 2012 and 2014.
In addition, the 35-year-old won the Open Championship in 2014 and his first major championship, the US Open, in 2011.
