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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

Luke Baker
Monday 14 April 2025 10:51 BST
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McIlroy trying to stay cool with Masters title in sight

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:

Rose and McIlroy tied at the top after huge swing

What a huge putt for McIlroy here. He’s left himself eight feet for bogey. He could really do with this...

BUT NO! Stays right of the hole and somehow he’s made a seven at the par-five. A fourth double bogey of the week! He drops back to -11 and Rose’s birdie putt at 16 is now for a tie for the lead.

And Rose makes it! Out of nowhere, we have a tie at the top!

Leaderboard: -11: McIlroy, Rose; -9: Aberg; -8: Scheffler

(Getty Images)
Luke Baker13 April 2025 22:40

McIlroy in the water

Rory McIlroy what have you done?! He’s cruising along and lays up at the par-five 13th with his second shot.

A wedge in and should have a great birdie look but blocks his shot to the white, it barely bounces on the green and rolls back off it, into the creek! How has he done that?

Suddenly he needs an up-and-down to save bogey, while Rose is putting for birdie up ahead. This could be a huge swing...

Leaderboard: -13: McIlroy; -10: Rose; -9: Aberg; -8: Scheffler

Luke Baker13 April 2025 22:35

Here comes Justin Rose

How strongly can Rose finish? Can he put pressure on McIlroy?

Oh yes he can! Stunning tee shot at the 16th as he lofts an iron towards the flag and it’s within six feet for a glorious birdie chance. If he holes it, he’ll be within two of McIlroy...

Aberg nearly holes a birdie effort from off the green on 14 as it lips out. Solid par though when bogey was on the table.

Leaderboard: -13: McIlroy; -10: Rose; -9: Aberg; -8: Scheffler

Luke Baker13 April 2025 22:33

Another hole ticked off for Rory McIlroy. Two putts on the 12th green, in for par and that’s another obstacle negotiated. Six holes to go...

Behind him, there’s some movement. Rose gets the shot back he dropped at the 14th on the par-five 15th. A hard-fought birdie from the bunker.

And Aberg also responds to a bogey with a birdie at the par-five 13th. For goo measure, Scottie Scheffler moves to -8 with back-to-back birdies at 13 and 14.

Things have now completely unravelled for Bryson DeChambeau, who can’t get up and down from the bunker and bogeys the 12th to drop way back to -6.

Leaderboard: -13: McIlroy; -10: Rose; -9: Aberg; -8: Scheffler

Luke Baker13 April 2025 22:29

McIlroy on the dreaded 12th

On to the 12th hole. McIlroy’s dreams have died at this par three in the past. He had a horror show here during his Sunday collapse in 2011.

With a four-shot lead, all he needs to do is find the green. Take the water out of play...

He does that. It’s away from the pin, towards the back of the green but it’s dry and he’ll be putting. Two-putt for par, get out of dodge and head to the par five will be the plan.

Leaderboard: -13: McIlroy; -9: Rose; -8: Aberg, Reed

Luke Baker13 April 2025 22:17

McIlroy makes bogey and DeChambeau a double

It won’t all be plain sailing for McIlroy, who can’t get up and down after the ball came short of the water. His par putt drifts by but a bogey five at the 11th isn’t the end of the world.

DeChambeau is in all sorts of trouble though. Completely misreads his bogey putt on the 11th, it’s the wrong line and he double bogeys. He falls all the way back to -7 and out of contention

Leaderboard: -13: McIlroy; -9: Rose; -8: Aberg, Reed

Luke Baker13 April 2025 22:14

McIlroy flirts with the water and DeChambeau gets wet

Wow - Amen Corner baring its teeth.

McIlroy flirting with danger. He has to thread the ball between two trees at the 11th, he tries to hook it round towards the green but it’s going too far left. It’s bounding towards the water but pulls up one or two rolls short of going down the hill and in the drink. It won’t be a fun shot from there with a dodgy stance but at least it’s not wet.

The same can’t be said of DeChambeau... He’s in prime position on the fairway but blocks his iron shot to the left and it lands in the water! That’s his Masters chances gone, you’d think.

Leaderboard: -14: McIlroy; -10: Rose; -9: DeChambeau; -8: Aberg, Reed

(Getty Images)
Luke Baker13 April 2025 22:08

McIlroy finds another birdie

Rory McIlroy is turning the screw now! From the fairway at 10, he nails an iron into the heart of the green, seven feet from the flag. And the birdie lands - he’s back to four clear at -14.

DecHambeau can only par and he’s now five strokes behind.

Leaderboard: -14: McIlroy; -10: Rose; -9: DeChambeau, Aberg; -8: Conners, Reed

Luke Baker13 April 2025 21:57

Rose agonisingly misses eagle

Justin Rose is feeling this now. He is millimetres away from an eagle at the par-five 13th as his put shaves the left edge of the hole. Rose is down on the floor with a wry grin on his face.

It’s still a third straight birdie though and he’s now second on his own at -10.

Meanwhile, Aberg is in all sorts of trouble on the 11th, in trees, chipping out but nails a 15-foot putt for a par save. Stays at -9, that’s huge.

Leaderboard: -13: McIlroy; -10: Rose; -9: DeChambeau, Aberg; -8: Conners, Reed

Luke Baker13 April 2025 21:55

McIlroy and DeChambeau head to the back nine

On to the back nine for the final pair. Just nine holes to go for Rory McIlroy in pursuit of his Masters dream. But as we know, things can change in a moment on the Augusta back nine.

Good start for him as he crushes a drive down the 10th fairway. And DeChambeau follows him

Leaderboard: -13: McIlroy; -9: DeChambeau, Aberg, Rose; -8: Conners, Reed

(Getty Images)
Luke Baker13 April 2025 21:48

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