Chants of “Rory, Rory, Rory” could be heard on the grounds of the Augusta National Golf Club as Rory McIlroy won the 2025 Masters Tournament and claimed his first green jacket.
“First of all, I want to thank Chairman Fred Ridley and all of the members at Augusta National,” McIlroy said during the green jacket ceremony. “This is by far the greatest golf tournament in the world. I’m from a place that I might get criticized for saying that, but I go back to watching this tournament on the weekend with my father when I was seven and eight years old, watching Tiger Woods to what he did in 1997, that was my inspiration to try to become what I am today. To think that I’m up here wearing one of those green jackets is, honestly, it’s a dream come true. My dreams have been made today.”
McIlroy also thanked the volunteers and staff for all the work they did throughout the week putting on the Masters Tournament. He thanked the patrons for being so supportive and present throughout the day.
“The no phone policy just makes everyone so present and so into what we’re doing out there on the golf course, and it’s just an absolute pleasure to play in atmosphere like the one we played in today,” McIlroy said. So, to everyone that stuck around, thank you so much.”
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Last, but not least, he thanked his family and team for sticking with him on his journey to the green jacket. He also offered his daughter, Poppy, some words of advice.
“They know the burden that I’ve carried to come here every year and try and try and try again, and the one thing I would say to my daughter Poppy that is sitting over there, never give up on your dreams. Never, ever give up on your dreams. Keep coming back, keep working hard and if you put your mind to it, you can do anything. I love you.”
Of the final round, McIlroy called it one of the “toughest days” he’s had on the course. But even though he got a double bogey on the first hole, he said he believed that helped calm his nerves.
“It’s funny, walking to the second tee, the first thing that popped into my head was Jon Rahm a couple of years ago making double and going on to win,” McIlroy said. “At least my mind was in the right place and was at least thinking positively about it. A complete roller coaster of a day. It felt, it was very tricky out there. It almost felt more like a U.S. Open than a Masters at some point with how firm and fast the greens got.”
After sinking the putt on the playoff hole, McIlroy said years of emotions came out of him as he realized he clinched the win at the Masters.
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“Since 2011, it’s so ironic as well, I got to my locker this morning and I opened it up and there was a note in there from Angel Cabrera just wishing me luck,” McIlroy said. “Angel Cabrera was the player I played with in the final day in 2011. So, it was a nice touch and a little bit ironic at the same time. it’s been 14 long years, but thankfully I go the job done.
In the 2025 Masters Tournament, McIlroy scored a 72 in round one, a 66 in round 2, a 66 in round 3 and a 73 in round 4.
Grand slam achieved
With this win in his 17th appearance at the Masters, McIlroy completed his career grand slam, which is when a professional golfer wins all four major championships, The Masters, U.S. Open, Open Championship, and PGA Championship. He now joins Gene Sarazen, Ben Hogan, Gary Player, Jack Nicklaus and Tiger Woods in this elite club.
Between 2014 and 2022, McIlroy has finished in the top 10 of the Masters Tournament seven out of nine times, including finishing as runner-up in 2022 when Scottie Scheffler won his first Masters.
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“This is just, it’s an absolute, it’s the honor of a lifetime to be standing here. I’ve dreamt about this moment for so long and I can’t wait to be here again next year in Scottie’s position, hopefully putting the Greenjacket back on myself.”
Justin Rose takes second
Rose, who was making his 20th Masters appearance and led the tournament after the first two days of the tournament, finished at 11 under par. At the Masters, he has finished in the top 25 11 out of the past 14 years. This is his third time finishing as runner-up, with the first coming in 2015 to Jordan Spieth and the second in 2017 to Sergio Garcia.
“it’s been an unbelievable week. From day one, obviously the golf course has been in gorgeous condition, the weather has been unbelievable, it’s been the most enjoyable Masters from that point of view for quite some time,” Rose said.
Of his final round, he described it as some of the best golf he’s played in career, all the way from the tee box to the green. The only time he felt he struggled was the back nine on day two.
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“I kind of let a few too many get away easily,” Rose said. “I felt that starting the day was kind of possibly going to cost me in the sense that I fell a little bit too far back. I mean, seven back starting the day. But I woke up this morning just really grateful to be Sunday at Augusta, it’s a special day in the game of golf no matter what.”
On Sunday, Rose got off to what he called a “strong start” and then in the middle of the round he got to a good place mentally and with his game.
“I began to sense that I was playing my way into the tournament,” Rose said. “I was laser focused out there and really didn’t look at the leaderboard all day until the 18th green and realized that putt, I could hear from the crowd on 17 that I was right in the mix. Then on 18, I figured Rory was behind me, there was, I needed to make that putt to give myself some hope.”
However, that hope came to an end in the sudden death playoff against McIlroy on hole 18.
“Unfortunately the playoff, they always end so quickly,” Rose said. “That’s sudden death, You don’t really get an opportunity, if you’re not the guy to get a great shot or hole a great putt, you know, it’s over. I felt like that’s the nature of sudden death. Nothing really I could’ve done more today.”
To view a full list of finishers, visit Masters.com.
