Georgia – Rory McIlroy completed his career Grand Slam with a birdie on the first playoff hole against Justin Rose at the Masters Tournament on Sunday.
Hideki Matsuyama, the 2021 Masters champion and the only Japanese player in the elite field, matched the day’s low round with a 6-under 66 to finish tied for 21st.
McIlroy became the sixth player in history to win each of golf’s four majors, joining Gene Sarazen, Ben Hogan, Gary Player, Jack Nicklaus and Tiger Woods in accomplishing the feat.
The Northern Irishman made his winning putt on the first playoff hole, the par-4 18th, after hitting a gap wedge from 125 yards to about three feet from the pin.
England’s Rose missed his birdie putt from 15 feet and parred.
“This is my 17th time here, and I started to wonder if it would ever be my time,” the 35-year-old McIlroy said. “I’m just absolutely honored and thrilled, and so proud to be able to call myself a Masters champion.”
McIlroy earned the winner’s prize of $4.2 million. It was his third win of the season and 29th of his PGA Tour career.
His final-round 73 and Rose’s 66 left both players at 11-under par for the tournament.
McIlroy appeared to be in control when holding a four-shot lead at the turn. But he dropped four strokes in four holes from the 11th with a pair of bogeys and a double bogey.
Rose battled back to make his 10th birdie of the day on the final hole of regulation.
Patrick Reed was alone in third at 9-under, followed by U.S. compatriot Scottie Scheffler a stroke further back. Both carded 69s in the final round.
Matsuyama bounced back from a disastrous third-round 79 to rack up seven birdies before finishing with his only bogey of the day.
“I got a birdie on the third hole, and I was able to get my momentum going from there,” the 33-year-old said. “I had a bad day yesterday, so I wanted to make up for all those dropped shots. It was just disappointing to end with a bogey.”
BY: The Times Union
