After years of near-misses, Rory McIlroy finally claimed the elusive Green Jacket at Augusta.
As the shadows lengthened across the 18th green at Augusta National in Georgia on the 73rd hole of the 89th US Masters on Sunday evening, world No 2 golfer Rory McIlroy finally completed what was missing in his impressive trophy cabinet – winning the Green Jacket to become just the sixth golfer to complete a career Grand Slam.
McIlroy, who turns 36 next month, won the 2011 US Open, 2012 and 2014 PGA Championship and 2014 Open Championship at a relatively young age, but his implosion on the back nine while leading the 2011 Masters – the missing trophy in his quest for a career Grand Slam – has weighed heavily on him ever since.
He’s won titles since. Big titles, but the green jacket has eluded him, and haunted him. Until now…
An emotional McIlroy could finally hit back after an emotional roller coaster when he sat down to address the media after his historic win on Sunday.
ALSO READ: Masters glory at last: ‘I rode my luck all week,’ says McIlroy
The man from Northern Ireland said: “I’d like to start this press conference with a question myself. What are we all going to talk about next year?”
It says a lot about what the Masters playoff win over England’s Justin Rose means to him after breaking down into tears on the green after sinking the winning birdie putt.
He had to dig deep during the final round and even endure moments when it looked as though he had let it slip.
The question now remains: is the best to come?
NOW READ: Masters prize money: How much McIlroy, Rose, Schwartzel won at Augusta
