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:
McIlroy sets up birdie look at 16
This tee shot at the par-three 16th will look scary for McIlroy but he makes a good fist of it.
In fact, better than that - it’s a lovely iron shot towards the pin at the back right. The ball grips and curves round to set up a decent birdie look
Leaderboard: -11: McIlroy; -10: Rose, Aberg; -8: Scheffler
Aberg too bold with putt
Oh dear, Ludvig Aberg. He has no margin for error but gets too aggressive with a birdie putt on 17. Races it at the hole and it ends up 10 feet by. That’s a stinker of a return putt for par. Miss it and his title chances are probably over.
Meanwhile, Rose finds the 18th green with his second shot and gets a huge ovation as he walks up. Lovely from the crowd.
Leaderboard: -11: McIlroy; -10: Rose, Aberg; -8: Scheffler
McIlroy misses eagle putt but retakes solo lead
Well, that’s a slight dampener on things. Not a great putt from McIlroy as his eagle attempt slides by. Tap-in birdie but that second shot deserved the eagle.
Still, it puts him back one shot ahead. He’d rather have two but it’s better than nothing.
Leaderboard: -11: McIlroy; -10: Rose, Aberg; -8: Scheffler
WATCH: McIlroy's shot of a lifetime
If Rory McIlroy goes on to win the Masters, then that will likely be the shot that did it. Simply remarkable. The shot of a lifetime.
McIlroy produces incredible shot to set up eagle chance
OH MY WORD! INCREDIBLE FROM RORY MCILROY.
Somehow, someway, he puts all the horror shows behind him and comes up with one of the shots of his life on the 15th!
His tee shot at 15 has left him blocked out to the green by the trees but he decides to take it on, hook the ball round them, fly it over the water and land on the green. It’s spectacular and starts rolling towards the hole, eventually coming to rest six feet away for an eagle chance.
The cojones to take that on, given everything that has happened, and the skill to pull it off is unreal. Chants of “Rory, Rory, Rory” from the crowd. Just wow!
Leaderboard: -10: McIlroy, Rose, Aberg; -8: Scheffler
WATCH: Rory McIlroy finds the water
Great tee shot from Rose at 18, down the middle of the fairway. Can he somehow fashion a birdie to get in the clubhouse at -11? That would be a serious target.
Here’s the moment Rory McIlroy found the water and his round turned, by the way.
Leaderboard: -10: McIlroy, Rose, Aberg; -8: Scheffler
Aberg can't make birdie
Suddenly Aberg is tied for the lead and he’ll fancy this. He has a birdie putt from the fringe on 16 - it’s a horror, turning sharply and does well to get it within a couple of feet. He safely taps in for par. Can he find a birdie in the final two holes?
McIlroy has the most chances left for birdies but how is he feeling right now? His tee shot at the par-five 15th is in play but more left than he’d like. He may not have a line into the green.
Leaderboard: -10: McIlroy, Rose, Aberg; -8: Scheffler
McIlroy and Rose drop shots
McIlroy and Rose now battling to save par. Rory’s par putt is right on the right edge of the hole but doesn’t drop! It’s a bogey and he’s no longer in the lead.
A good chip over the bunker from Rose at 17 but he’s still got a tester for par from eight feet... This is to stay in the solo lead of the Masters as he heads to 18.
But he misses it! It stays left of the hole and it’s a three-way tie at the top between McIlroy, Rose and Aberg!
Leaderboard: -10: McIlroy, Rose, Aberg; -8: Scheffler
Aberg closes to within one
Hello Ludvig Aberg. He’s barely made a putt all day but when faced with an eight-footer for birdie on the 15th, he delivers!
Into double digits at -10. Only one shot back and both McIlroy and Rose - who went over the back of the green at 17 - are scrambling for par on -11...
Leaderboard: -11: McIlroy, Rose; -9: Aberg; -8: Scheffler
McIlroy and Rose battling tee shots
I guess it was never going to be easy for McIlroy but this has spiralled out of nowhere and suddenly he’s in a real battle with Rose.
Rose’s tee shot at 17 is slightly left, he won’t have a perfect angle into the green. But he’s in better shape than McIlroy at the 14th - he goes right with his tee shot and is in the pine straw.
He has to draw his second shot and does well to get it towards the green, just off the front in a little bowl. Not an easy up and down for par.
Leaderboard: -11: McIlroy, Rose; -9: Aberg; -8: Scheffler
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