Rory McIlroy’s Major triumphs
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Rory McIlroy finally gets his chance to wear the green jacket after winning the Masters.
PHOTO: EPA-EFE
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AUGUSTA – Major triumphs by Northern Irish star Rory McIlroy, who completed golf’s career Grand Slam on April 13 with a victory in the Masters.
2011 US Open
After a final-round eight-over 80 cost 2011 Masters leader McIlroy a Green Jacket, his next opportunity to win his first Major came at the 2011 US Open at Congressional Country Club in Washington. The rain-softened conditions played into his hands and he dominated, finishing a record 16 under and compiling a record aggregate of 268 to defeat Jason Day by eight strokes.
2012 PGA Championship
A year later McIlroy again dominated, this time at Kiawah Island in South Carolina. He fired a bogey-free 66 in the final round to defeat England’s David Lynn by a record eight strokes. McIlroy made five birdies in his first eight holes on the way to a third-round 67, then pulled away after a thunderstorm drenched the oceanside layout.
2014 British Open
McIlroy moved within a Masters victory of the career Grand Slam by winning the Claret Jug at Royal Liverpool, taking the British Open by two strokes over Sergio Garcia and Rickie Fowler. He became the sixth wire-to-wire winner of the event.
2014 PGA Championship
The Northern Irishman won his second Major in a row, edging out Phil Mickelson by one stroke after racing darkness to finish the final round on Sunday at Valhalla in Louisville, Kentucky. McIlroy, who had become world No. 1 at the start of the week, birdied three of the last four holes in the third round to shoot 67 and grab the lead. He fell behind by as many as three shots in the final round before rallying for the title, a closing par in near-total darkness giving him a fourth Major victory.
2025 Masters
McIlroy had failed in 10 previous attempts to win the Green Jacket and complete the career Grand Slam but this time would not be denied. He surrendered the solo lead three times in the final round, missing a five-foot par putt on the 72nd hole to fall into a play-off with Justin Rose. Given a second chance to make history on the 18th green, McIlroy sank a four-foot birdie putt to win, then dropped to his knees, put his head on the green and wept, his dream of a Masters victory realised. AFP
