Photo Courtesy of Hyosub Shin via Atlanta Journal-Constitution
After 20 years of waiting, the world of golf celebrates a historic milestone as Rory McIlroy achieves a Grand Slam. In the final round of the 89th Masters at Augusta National Golf Club in Georgia, McIlroy, making his 17th Masters appearance, narrowly defeated Justin Rose in the first hole played in the sudden-death playoff.
The Masters is one of the most coveted international sporting events held annually at the Augusta National Golf Club in Augusta, Georgia. Beginning in 1934, the tournament, initially named the “Augusta Nation Invitational,” was founded by amateur golf legend Bobby Jones and investment banker Clifford Roberts. The Green Jacket, the iconic symbol of the Masters, was initially donned by Augusta National members to distinguish them at the tournament. The jacket is customized to each golfer’s measurements and is a classic, three-button, single-breasted, single-vented coat in the shade Pantone 342, which takes around one month to create. The Green Jacket has been awarded to the tournament champion since 1949 when Sam Snead won.
Completing a golf Grand Slam requires individuals to win all four major golfing championships: The Masters, the PGA Championship, the U.S. Open, and The Open Championship. McIlroy won the 2011 U.S. Open, the 2012 and 2014 PGA Championship, and the 2014 Open Championship. McIlroy completed the Grand Slam at the 2025 Masters Tournament, joining an exclusive club of now only six professional golfers including Jack Nicklaus and Tiger Woods.
The 89th Masters at Augusta National was quite intense and dramatic. McIlroy started shaky, double bogeying the first hole. However, he quickly stabilized with birdie on holes three, four, nine, and ten, allowing him to regain control of the tournament. However, at hole thirteen, McIlrory shot another fateful double bogey, while Justine Rose secured a birdie putt on hole number sixteen, tying the tournament.
McIlroy choked again, landing a bogey at hole number fourteen, but recovered with a birdie at hole number fifteen. McIlroy regained the lead ahead of Rose, but another bogey at the last hole sent both golfers into a sudden-death playoff. English golfer Justin Rose was on par for the first hole of the playoffs. Nevertheless, McIlroy’s birdie sealed his victory at the tournament.
Tiger Woods, the last player to achieve a Grand Slam, took to X to congratulate McIlroy saying, “Welcome to the club. Completing the grand slam at Augusta is something special. Your determination during this round and this entire journey has shown through, and now you’re a part of history. Proud of you!”
The PGA Tour continues its season at the RBC Heritage tournament from April 17th to April 20th.
First-Year Lavanya Seshasayee is the Sports Editor. Her email is lseshasa@fandm.edu.