The Masters 2025 LIVE: Rory McIlroy dramatically beats Justin Rose in play-off for career grand slam
Rory McIlroy missed a five-foot putt for the title in regulation play before beating Justin Rose in a play-off to finally complete the career grand slam
Rory McIlroy finally won the Masters, fulfilling a lifelong dream and and putting years of hurt behind him, to complete the career grand slam in the most dramatic fashion.
McIlroy’s final round swung back and forth and he only needed a par on the 18th to win the title in regulation. But he missed a five-foot par putt to instead set up a play-off against Ryder Cup teammate Justin Rose, who had carded a magical 66 to set the clubhouse target at -11.
Yet the Northern Irishman somehow regained his composure and played the 18th brilliantly in the sudden-death play-off, sinking a four-footer for birdie to deny Rose, adding the Masters to his Open, US Open and two PGA Championship crowns. He is only the sixth man in the history of golf to win all four majors.
It ended an 11-year major drought that was full of heartbreak and near misses and McIlroy sunk to his knees in delight as the emotion overwhelmed him, with his Augusta National hoodoo finally at an end.
Relive all of the action from Augusta below:
Reed finishes up
Patrick Reed finishes with a par, a final-round 69 and he ends on -9. He’ll finish third behind McIlroy and Rose. What order will they be in, though?
Leaderboard: -12: McIlroy; -11: Rose; -9: Reed; -8: Scheffler
McIlroy finds the fairway
Just two more big swings from McIlroy and the title could be his. First of those is the tee shot...
PERFECT! Smashes it down the middle of the 18th fairway. Just one more swing, two putts and the Masters title is yours, Rory.
Easy, right...?
Leaderboard: -12: McIlroy; -11: Rose; -9: Reed; -8: Scheffler
Horror finish for Aberg
Ludvig Aberg with all sorts of issues at 18. He finds the fairway bunker, then fails to get out with his next shot, hitting the lip.
From there, he finds a greenside bunker, then chips over the back of the green before racing one well past the flag on the way back. It all adds up to a triple-bogey seven. He drops from -9 to -6 - incredible to think he had the co-lead about 15 minutes ago.
Instead of finishing third, he’ll likely be sixth now...
Leaderboard: -12: McIlroy; -11: Rose; -9: Reed; -8: Scheffler
McIlroy takes the lead to the 18th
McIlroy will rightly take his time over this birdie putt. Check all the angles, line it up. AND IT’S THERE! Stroked in and Rory McIlroy leads the Masters by one shot heading up 18.
He’s a par away from history. The career grand slam is within reach...
Leaderboard: -12: McIlroy; -11: Rose; -9: Aberg, Reed; -8: Scheffler
Patrick Reed holes out for eagle
What a moment for Patrick Reed! Good tee shot down the middle of the fairway at 17 and, from 146 yards, his iron shot bounces once and lands in the bottom of the cup!
It’s an eagle for Reed and he jumps to -9. He looks baffled back on the fairway until it’s confirmed it’s gone in.
Leaderboard: -11: McIlroy, Rose; -9: Aberg, Reed; -8: Scheffler
McIlroy's sparkling second at 17
McIlroy has 184 yards to the green at 17 - great angle in, no wind. Can he attack this with an eight-iron and set up a birdie chance?
YES HE CAN! McIlroy is screaming for it to “go, go, go” in the air and it obliges. Lands on the front of the green, hops forward and runs to about three feet from the hole. Should be a kick-in birdie and a lead up the last? Deary me, the drama!
Leaderboard: -11: McIlroy, Rose; -9: Aberg; -8: Scheffler, DeChambeau
McIlroy on 17 as Scheffler finishes up
The 17th is a tough, tough golf hole. Of the final two, McIlroy probably has a better chance of birdie at 18.
He produces a good tee shot, up the right, in the first cut but it’s a long way back from the green. A good iron will be required.
Scottie Scheffler - defending champion and world No 1 - finishes up with a par for a 69 and -8 for the tournament. That’ll be a top five for him.
Leaderboard: -11: McIlroy, Rose; -9: Aberg; -8: Scheffler, DeChambeau
WATCH: Justin Rose sets clubhouse target
Here’s how Justin Rose set the clubhouse target at -11. Spectacular from the veteran Englishman
Aberg drops out as McIlroy only pars
Right, this is all setting up now. Aberg has missed his par putt back up the hill to drop to -9. Unless he holes his second shot at 18, he can’t win.
McIlroy’s birdie putt at 16 juuuuust misses, so he stays level with Rose at -11.
Two holes to go for McIlroy. Drop a shot and Rose wins. Par-par and it’s a play-off. If he can find a birdie, then glory awaits. Hoo boy - how are your nerves?
Leaderboard: -11: McIlroy, Rose; -9: Aberg; -8: Scheffler, DeChambeau
Rose finishes with a birdie to set clubhouse target
Wow, wow, wow. Justin Rose has done all he can now! He digs out one final birdie putt for a sparkling round of 66 - 10 birdies in there.
It moves him to -11, back level with McIlroy and that is a serious clubhouse target. Over to you, Rory!
Leaderboard: -11: McIlroy, Rose; -10: Aberg; -8: Scheffler
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