At long last, Rory McIlroy is a Masters champion, finally completing the career Grand Slam at Augusta National on Sunday with a dramatic playoff victory over Justin Rose.
But he certainly didn't make things easy on himself.
Holding a two-shot advantage over Bryson DeChambeau heading into the final round, McIlroy watched his lead quickly evaporate as he dropped into a tie with the two-time U.S. Open champ with a double bogey at the opening hole.
And when DeChambeau made birdie at the par-5 second, Rory found himself one shot behind after carding a par, only to take a one-shot lead at the par-4 third, making birdie while Bryson bogeyed. He then upped his lead to three at the par-3 fourth, again making birdie while DeChambeau recorded a second straight bogey.
After he added another birdie at the ninth, it seemed as if McIlroy was set to run away with the tournament, as he held a four-shot advantage heading into the second nine and upped his lead even further with a birdie at the 10th.
Rory McIlroy starts his second nine with a birdie. #themasters pic.twitter.com/4uao6JhRjg
— The Masters (@TheMasters) April 13, 2025
But that's where the drama began, as Rory bogeyed the 11th and then doubled the 13th, his fourth double of the week, allowing Rose (and Ludvig Åberg for a short time) right back into the mix. Åberg ultimately fell off and finished solo seventh.
Dropping yet another shot at the 14th, McIlroy actually lost the lead as Rose, who had a wild day with just four pars on his scorecard, birdied the 16th.
Solo leader, Justin Rose. #themasters pic.twitter.com/cfoXyfqLuz
— The Masters (@TheMasters) April 13, 2025
But with Rose making bogey at the 17th, Rory went back up by one with a birdie at the par-5 15th, only to see Rose tie things again with a birdie at the 18th, finishing with a 6-under 66 to post 11-under.
McIlroy again took a one-shot lead with a birdie at the 17th following an incredible approach.
With a birdie on No. 17, Rory McIlroy takes the outright lead. #themasters pic.twitter.com/pWyYzxcL3c
— The Masters (@TheMasters) April 13, 2025
But after finding the fairway off the tee at the last, he hit a poor second into the greenside bunker and failed to get up and down for par, missing a five-footer before tapping in for bogey to send things to a playoff.
Replaying the 18th, both found the fairway off the tee. Playing first some 30 yards behind, Rose hit a gorgeous approach right at the flagstick, with his ball settling 15 feet behind the hole. But Rory answered in style, knocking his second to four feet.
And after Rose just missed his putt to the right and tapped in for par, McIlroy finally closed the door on his demons, finding the bottom of the cup and almost immediately dropping to his knees in tears.
A long time coming. Congratulations, Rory. #themasters pic.twitter.com/f72nOxQbfw
— The Masters (@TheMasters) April 13, 2025
The win was obviously historic for career Grand Slam purposes, but Rory also made more history in earning the largest paycheck in Masters history, collecting $4.2 million.
Rose, meanwhile, added $2.268 million to his bank account by taking solo second. Third-place finisher Patrick Reed earned $1.428 million, while Scottie Scheffler took home $1.008 million by finishing fourth.
Final 2025 Masters payouts
Here's a look at the final payouts for all 53 players who made the cut at the 2025 Masters.
- 1. Rory McIlroy - $4,200,000
- 2. Justin Rose - $2,268,000
- 3. Patrick Reed - $1,428,000
- 4. ScottieScheffler - $1,008,000
- T5. Sungjae Im - $798,000
- T5. Bryson DeChambeau - $798,000
- 7. Ludvig Aberg - $703,500
- T8. Jason Day - $588,000
- T8. Corey Conners - $588,000
- T8. Xander Schauffele - $588,000
- T8. Zach Johnson - $588,000
- T12. Harris English - $462,000
- T12. Max Homa - $462,000
- T14. Bubba Watson - $336,000
- T14. Jon Rahm - $336,000
- T14. Jordan Spieth - $336,000
- T14. Tyrrell Hatton - $336,000
- T14. Matt McCarty - $336,000
- T14. Tom Hoge - $336,000
- T14. Collin Morikawa - $336,000
- T21. Hideki Matsuyama - $210,000
- T21. Davis Riley - $210,000
- T21. Tommy Fleetwood - $210,000
- T21. Daniel Berger - $210,000
- T21. Byeong Hun An - $210,000
- T21. Viktor Hovland - $210,000
- T27. Aaron Rai - $158,500
- T27. Michael Kim - $158,500
- T29. Sahith Theegala - $142,800
- T29. Denny McCarthy - $142,800
- T29. Joaquin Niemann - $142,800
- T32. Brian Campbell - $118,860
- T32. Maverick McNealy - $118,860
- T32. Rasmus Hojgaard - $118,860
- T32. Max Greyserman - $118,860
- T36. Justin Thomas - $118,860
- T36. Brian Harman - $96,600
- T36. Patrick Cantlay - $96,600
- T36. Charl Schwartzel - $96,600
- T40. Matt Fitzpatrick - $96,600
- T40. Nick Taylor - $84,000
- T42. Akshay Bhatia - $84,000
- T42. Danny Willett - $77,700
- T42. J.T. Poston - $77,700
- T42. Shane Lowry - $77,700
- T46. Wyndham Clark - $59,535
- T46. Sam Burns - $59,535
- T46. Davis Thompson - $59,535
- 49. Min Woo Lee - $59,535
- 50. J.J. Spaun - $52,920
- 51. Nico Echavarria - $51,660
- T52. Stephan Jaeger - $51,660
- T52. Tom Kim - $51,660