Rory McIlroy wins the Masters to complete career Grand Slam after nerve-shredding play-off with Justin Rose

Rory McIlroy finally ended his Masters hoodoo to become only the sixth golfer in history to complete a career Grand Slam after a nail-biting play-off with Justin Rose.

In a pulsating final round at Augusta National, McIlroy missed a putt on the 18th to win the title in regulation, before eventually getting his hands on the coveted green jacket via a sudden-death shootout.

McIlroy had earlier managed to wrestle back control after surrendering an overnight two-shot lead, only to blow a four-stroke advantage across his closing six holes.

But in the first extra hole in Georgia, McIlroy displayed nerves of steel to roll in a birdie from three feet, denying Rose what would have been a first major title in 12 years.

McIlroy’s triumph sees him become only the sixth player to complete a modern career Grand Slam, following in the footsteps of Gene Sarazen, Ben Hogan, Gary Player, Jack Nicklaus and Tiger Woods.

The victory banishes the demons that saw the Masters title elude his grasp in 2011 and last year at Pinehurst, where he bogeyed three of his last four holes to miss out to Bryson DeChambeau.

Heading into Sunday’s climax, DeChambeau sat just two shots off the lead and warned McIlroy that he was ‘not going to back down’ while he was still nipping at his heels.

But the American suffered a spectacular collapse and dropped out of contention across the decisive 18 holes, finishing down in fifth – tied with Sung-Jae Im – on -7.

McIlroy threatened to let another Masters victory slip through his fingers as he fumbled a five-stroke advantage to allow Rose to draw level on -11, with the latter making a stunning 20-foot birdie on the 18th.

The Northern Irishman regained his composure to take a one-stroke lead into the 18th, only to bogey the hole after missing a five-foot putt which would have secured the crown.

However, McIlroy prevailed at the second time of asking in a tense play-off, holding his nerve to claim a famous victory after Rose hit par. The 35-year-old instinctively dropped to his knees and burst into tears before celebrating the moment of history with his loved ones.

‘My 17th time here. I was starting to wonder if it would ever be my time,’ McIlroy said before he was presented with the green jacket by the 2024 champion Scottie Scheffler.

‘Over the last ten years, coming with burden of Grand Slam on my shoulders, and trying to achieve that…. I wonder what we are all going to talk about coming into next year.

‘I am so proud to be able to call myself a Masters champion.’

More to follow.

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