Rory McIlroy is now just the sixth golfer in history to complete the career grand slam (REUTERS/Mike Segar)
(REUTERS / Reuters)
AUGUSTA, Ga. — Rory McIlroy didn’t make it easy on himself. At all.
But, after one of the most chaotic days in recent Masters memory, McIlroy is walking off the course at Augusta National with a green jacket.
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McIlroy, despite two double-bogeys, several wild lead changes and a missed putt for the win at the 18th, beat Justin Rose in a playoff to win the Masters. That snapped his nearly 11-year dry spell at major championships, and finally gave him the career grand slam. He is now just the sixth golfer in history, and the first since Tiger Woods, to pull off that feat.
But, as quickly as it had disappeared, McIlroy snagged it right back. McIlroy made back-to-back birdies to jump out in front again, and then he grabbed a four-shot lead as he made the turn with a third birdie at the ninth.turned, though, which left him with a par. McIlroy then sank his put, and collapsed to the ground crying.
McIlroy may have been hit with a bit of nerves right out of the gate, as he dropped his lead to Bryson DeChambeau instantly with a double bogey on the first. DeChambeau briefly took the lead with a birdie of his own at the second, too.
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But, as quickly as it has disappeared, McIlroy snagged it right back. McIlroy made back-to-back birdies to jump out in front again, and then he grabbed a four-shot lead as he made the turn with a third birdie at the ninth.
That, though, is where it nearly fell apart. McIlroy made two bogeys on his next five holes, and he made a double-bogey at the par-5 13th after he sent his approach shot into Rae’s Creek. Just like that, his once seven-shot lead had disappeared completely and he was tied with Rose.
McIlroy, though, hit an incredible approach into the par-5 15th to set up an easy birdie putt. Though he missed the eagle look there, Jim Nantz called it the “shot of a lifetime.”
While that briefly put him in the lead, Rose drained a 20-footer on the 18th green to get back to 11-under and match McIlroy at the top of the leaderboard. But McIlroy again stuck his approach just a few feet from the cup at the 17th.
But, McIlroy landed in the bunker at the 18th and missed a five-foot putt that would’ve sealed the win. So, he and Rose went back out for the playoff.
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Rose has now finished in second three times at the Masters in his career, including twice in a playoff. Patrick Reed finished in third at 9-under, and DeChambeau — despite playing his way into the final group — stumbled on Sunday and ended up finishing five-shots back.
Stick with Yahoo Sports this week as we keep you updated with the latest action from Augusta National Golf Club in Georgia, and check out the leaderboard here.
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