Rory McIlroy clinched the Masters title in dramatic fashion after seeing off Justin Rose in a play-off. The 35-year-old completed the career Grand Slam and ended his major drought in grand style at Augusta National. McIlroy recovered from losing his overnight two shot advantage to become only the sixth golfer to complete the career Grand Slam.
The Northern Irishman bogeyed the last to close a one-over 73 and slip back to 11 under alongside Rose, who put in a strong performance to overturn a seven-stroke deficit and posted a remarkable final-round 66 to force a play-off. Both men returned to the 18th for the play-off where McIlroy eventually came out on top after he fired a stunning approach to within three feet of the pin and made the birdie putt to make up for his 72nd-hole blunder.
McIlroy Joins Exclusive Career Grand Slam Group
McIlroy’s win at Augusta National is his first major since the 2014 PGA Championship and his fifth overall major title. The 35-year-old joins the exclusive group of golfers who have completed the career Grand Slam.
After McIlroy’s win yesterday, only six players have completed the “modern” or “professional” career grand slam. The World No. 2 has now won titles at all four major championships: the Masters, the PGA Championship, the U.S. Open and The Open Championship.
Five Legends Who Completed Golf’s Career Grand Slam
1. Gene Sarazen
Gene Sarazen was the first golfer in history to complete the career Grand Slam. Sarazen won the the U.S. Open and the PGA Championship when he was just 20 years old. The legendary golfer won another PGA Championship in 1932 and went on to win the U.S Open again and The Open to complete a hat-trick of major championships. He won the Masters title in 1935 to become the first player to complete what is now widely known as the career Grand Slam.
2. Ben Hogan
Ben Hogan completed the career Grand Slam 18 years after Sarazen completed the feat. Hogan won his first major title at the 1946 PGA Championship before going on to win his first U.S Open in 1948 and the Masters title in 1951. Hogan had a remarkable season in 1953 as he won the Masters, U.S Open, and The Open to complete the career Grand Slam.
3. Gary Player
Gary Player completed the career Grand Slam in 1965 after winning the U.S. Open. This was the only time the legendary golfer won the U.S. Open in his career. The South African was a major rival of the next man to complete the career Grand Slam, Jack Nicklaus.
4. Jack Nicklaus
Jack Nicklaus is one of just two players in history to win the career Grand Slam three times over. Nicklaus completed the career Grand Slam just a year after his arch-rival Gary Player achieved the feat. He won The Open in 1966 to write his name in the history books before going on to win the title again in 1970 and 1978.
5. Tiger Woods
Tiger Woods is the only other player to have completed the career Grand Slam three times over. The American completed his first slam at The Open in 2000, as part of an incredible run dubbed the “Tiger Slam,” in which he was the reigning champion at all four majors at the same time.
Main Photo Credit: © Kyle Terada-Imagn Images
