But the putt missed.
Golf fans alike had seen this before, a McIlroy meltdown late on Masters Sunday. This time, however, his chances were still alive, as he went into a sudden-death playoff against Justin Rose for the 2025 win.
McIlroy sank his putt the second time around, though, winning his first Masters and etching himself into an elite group of golfers to win every major at least once in their careers, alongside Jack Nicklaus, Tiger Woods, Ben Hogan, Gary Player and Gene Sarazen.
McIlroy, obviously emotional following the win, has finally done it.
USA TODAY Sports followed McIlroy’s finish. Follow belong for updates and highlights from his Masters win after his Sunday round:
What did Rory McIlroy shoot today at The Masters?
McIlroy shot 11-under through 18 holes on Sunday, before beating Justin Rose in the first hole of the playoff in a re-do of hole 18. This time, McIlroy sunk the putt for the win.
Rory McIlroy Masters Sunday scorecard
This section will be updated throughout McIlroy’s round Sunday.
Sunday score: 1-over
Overall score: 11-under
6 (Double Bogey)
5 (Par)
3 (Birdie)
2 (Birdie)
4 (Par)
3 (Par)
4 (Par)
5 (Par)
3 (Birdie)
3 (Birdie)
5 (Bogey)
3 (Par)
7 (Double bogey)
5 (Bogey)
4 (Birdie)
3 (Par)
3 (Birdie)
5 (Bogey)
3 (Birdie)
Rory McIlroy wins it
Despite all his plunders on Sunday, McIlroy beats Justin Rose in a re-do of hole 18 for his first career Masters win to complete the Career Grand Slam.
He sank the putt this time around.
Rory McIlroy, Justin Rose heading to playoff
McIlroy misses a tournament-sealing putt, putting him and Rose in a playoff after McIlroy bogeys. McIlroy and Rose end the tournament at 11-under before the playoff.
Rory McIlroy hits bunker on hole 18
Uh oh. McIlroy’s shot from the fairway hits bunker. He has two shots left in order to par, which would secure the win. If he bogeys, he goes to a playoff with Justin Rose.
Huge couple shots here.
Rory McIlroy leads ahead of final hole
McIlroy birdies on hole 17, giving him sole possession atop the leaderboard ahead of Justin Rose, who finished the tournament at 11-under. McIlroy hopes to avoid an absolute collapse on the final hole.
Rory McIlroy regains lead on birdie putt
McIlroy had a chance at Eagle on an absurd shot onto the green, but he misses the putt before scoring a birdie anyway on hole 15. He regains the lead at 11-under par ahead of Ludvig Aberg and Justin Rose, before Rose birdies hole 18 to tie Rory at 11-under once again.
Rory McIlroy loses lead
Rory follows up his double bogey with a bogey on the 14th hole, falling out of tied-for first place and into tied-for second place with Ludvig Aberg at 10-under. Justin Rose solely leads at 11-under with four holes remaining.
Rory McIlroy double bogeys
McIlroy scores a double bogey on the 13th role and Justin Rose birdies, putting the two tied-for-first place in the standings. McIlroy had a three-shot lead over Rose entering the No. 13 but makes a drastic mistake he’ll have to fix with five holes to go.
What hole is Rory McIlroy on right now?
McIlroy, along with playing partner Bryson DeChambeau, is on the 15th hole after scoring a bogey on the 14th hole to fall into tied-for second place with Ludvig Aberg at 10-under, behind leader Justin Rose at 11-under.
Back-to-back birdies extend Rory McIlroy’s Masters lead
McIlroy has dealt with his share of demons at Augusta National over the years, but as he begins the back nine, he’s starting to pull away. McIlroy recorded birdies on the 9th and 10th holes, putting him at 14-under-par for the tournament and four strokes ahead of Justin Rose. Bryson DeChambeau, who entered the day two strokes behind McIlroy, is now five strokes back, at 9-under-par.
Rory McIlroy extends lead with birdie on 4th
How quickly things have changed. McIlroy hit a brilliant shot from the tee on the par-3 4th, getting within a few feet of the pin and sinking his birdie putt. DeChambeau, meanwhile, again struggled on the green, three-putting for the second time in as many holes to extend McIlroy’s advantage to three strokes.
Rory McIlroy retakes lead over Bryson DeChambeau with birdie
Just as quickly as McIlroy lost the lead, he gained it back. After falling behind Bryson DeChambeau by a stroke, McIlroy birdies the 3rd hole, giving him the lead after DeChambeau three-putts for a bogey.
Bryson DeChambeau takes lead over Rory McIlroy
McIlroy’s 2-stroke lead heading into Sunday at The Masters proved to be short-lived. McIlroy double-bogeyed the 1st hole, tying him with DeChambeau. On the following hole, DeChambeau birdied while McIlroy recorded a par, putting DeChambeau atop the leaderboard.
Rory McIlroy Masters history
Here’s a look at where McIlroy has finished in each of his previous appearances at The Masters:
2009: T-20th
2010: Missed cut
2011: T-15th
2012: T-40th
2013: T-25th
2014: T-8th
2015: 4th
2016: T-10th
2017: T-7th
2018: T-5th
2019: T-21st
2020: T-5th
2021: Missed cut
2022: 2nd
2023: Missed cut
2024: T-22nd
Rory McIlroy age
McIlroy is 35 years old and will turn 36 on May 4.
Where was Rory McIlroy born?
McIlroy was born and raised in Holywood, Northern Ireland.
Rory McIlroy Round 3 scorecard
McIlroy moved into the lead with a brilliant performance Saturday in which he finished with a 6-under-par 66, which included four birdies and two eagles.
Saturday score: 6-under
3 (Birdie)
3 (Eagle)
3 (Birdie)
3 (Par)
3 (Birdie)
3 (Par)
4 (Par)
6 (Bogey)
4 (Par)
5 (Bogey)
4 (Par)
3 (Bogey)
4 (Birdie)
4 (Par)
3 (Eagle)
3 (Par)
4 (Par)
3 (Birdie)
Has Rory McIlroy ever won The Masters?
McIlroy will be in search of his first-ever Masters victory Sunday. He has never won the event before, making it the only major tournament in which he hasn’t finished in first place. His best finish came in 2022, when he came in second place.
Rory McIlroy tee time Sunday
McIlroy will tee off at 2:30 p.m. ET on Sunday as part of a pairing with DeChambeau. Both men are vying for their first career victory at The Masters.