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By Paolo Uggetti
AUGUSTA, Ga. — Rory McIlroy`s long quest for a Masters green jacket culminated in triumph after an emotionally charged final round. Twice he approached the 18th fairway with victory within reach, battling not only his competitors but also his own internal struggles over 19 holes. After sinking to his knees, overwhelmed by emotion, he paused near the Augusta National clubhouse, realizing he had finally reached the summit of his golfing aspirations.
He had conquered his personal Everest. With tears in his eyes and a flushed face, he turned to his companions and spoke the words he had yearned to say for over a decade: `I need to get myself a green jacket.`
The weight of an 11-year major championship drought pressed on McIlroy on Sunday. While the Augusta crowd was ready to celebrate his breakthrough, his roller-coaster round sparked murmurs of doubt throughout the grounds.
`Oh my God,` one spectator exclaimed after McIlroy`s double bogey on the first hole.
`It`s nerves,` another commented, as Bryson DeChambeau took the lead on the second.
One fan buried his face in his hands, lamenting, `He`s doing it again.`
McIlroy`s troubles continued with a double bogey on the 13th, finding Rae`s Creek, followed by a bogey on 14. Even a birdie on 17 couldn`t fully recover the damage, as he bogeyed the last. It appeared to be another major opportunity slipping away, a sentiment McIlroy himself briefly shared.
`There were moments on the back nine today when I wondered, “Have I lost my grip again?”` McIlroy confessed. `My real battle today was internal, not against my competitors.`
This victory was over a decade in the making. Past disappointments and near misses had left their mark, creating a mental hurdle between aspiration and achievement. Fittingly, the win came through adversity. A six-shot lead with eight holes remaining proved insufficient. Every shot felt laden with the weight of history, threatening to place him on the losing side once more. Ultimately, it was here, after a playoff, that he finally found release.
`This is the greatest day of my golfing career,` McIlroy declared. `I`ve truly realized my dreams.`
A win at St. Andrews in 2022 would have been poetic. A U.S. Open victory at Los Angeles Country Club in 2023 would have showcased his evolving game. Triumph at Pinehurst the previous year could have dramatically ended his major drought.
However, none of those victories would have addressed the persistent question: Could McIlroy conquer Augusta?
For McIlroy, this tournament carries profound personal significance, deeply intertwined with his golfing journey. Memories of watching the Masters as a 7-year-old with his father flooded his mind both on Tuesday and Sunday night.
`I believe all of that comes back to me,` McIlroy reflected. `Remembering the initial spark of my love for the game.`
Two years after turning professional in 2007, McIlroy made his Masters debut in 2009, finishing tied for 20th. He has participated in every tournament since – 17 in total – experiencing both close calls and disappointments. Over nearly two decades, the world of golf and its premier event have transformed, as has McIlroy himself.
The youthful, dark, curly hair that framed his face at 17, driving down Magnolia Lane, is gone. McIlroy now sports a shorter haircut, with graying temples marking the passage of time, a testament to his long career and the numerous opportunities he`s had to achieve what he finally accomplished on Sunday: completing the career Grand Slam.
`I think I`ve carried that burden since August 2014,` McIlroy admitted. `It`s been incredibly challenging. Today was particularly tough.`
McIlroy spoke extensively about the nerves he battled throughout Sunday. He discussed the pressure, both self-imposed and from the expectations set by legends like Jack Nicklaus and Tiger Woods, who had predicted his Masters victory as if it were inevitable.
Yet, Sunday`s performance, in its intense snapshot, highlighted that McIlroy`s path is unique, different from Nicklaus or Woods. It`s not a matter of talent, but his journey, like this week with its double bogeys and unpredictable swings, is characterized by both highs and lows, integral to his story.
`You must maintain eternal optimism,` McIlroy stated. `I genuinely believe I`m a better player now than I was a decade ago.`
His unwavering creed of patience, belief, and resilience faced its ultimate test at Pinehurst the previous year. That defeat cast doubt on McIlroy`s immediate future, necessitating a significant reset. He responded by taking time off, walking through New York City, and eventually returning to practice, refining his swing in a simulator.
A technical adjustment, a mental refresh, and a new year brought a revitalized McIlroy. Victories at Pebble Beach and the Players Championship, fueled by Scottie Scheffler`s dominant year, demonstrated a remarkable blend of control and aggression.
However, the question persisted, now more pressing than ever: Could he achieve it at the Masters? On Sunday, he delivered the definitive answer. He showed just how deeply he desired this victory.
`This is my 17th appearance here, and I began to question if my time would ever come,` McIlroy confessed. `The emotion that poured out of me on the final green in the playoff was the culmination of at least 11, if not 14 years, of built-up feelings.`
`I accomplished what I set out to do.`
In a PGA Tour video from earlier Sunday, McIlroy discussed his jacket size, noting he wears a 38 or 40 short, depending on his eating habits. He prefers a `more European style,` `a bit more fitted, a little more tapered and pinched in.`
On Sunday, Scheffler helped McIlroy into the green jacket. It was a size 38 regular, slightly large and not yet tailored to McIlroy`s precise preferences. But as the wool fabric enveloped his shoulders, McIlroy closed his eyes, raised his hands, and looked up to the sky.
The fit didn`t need to be perfect; everything else already was.
