It was Rory McIlroy and Cam Young in the final group, but stars came firing from all different angles. Two time champion and world number 1 Scottie Scheffler birdied the first, and Justin Rose holed a chip on the very same hole.
Only to mention two.
It was showtime.
Last year, Justin Rose had dinner with Rory McIlroy in the clubhouse at the same time as the Champions Dinner. Four days later they met in a playoff that Rory obviously won. Was it now Rosie’s turn?
It sure felt like it when he hit a McIlroy shot á la 2025 on 7. A slice around the trees, that looked like it was taken straight out of the Louvre.
The crowds were going wild for the 45 year old, who had momentum on his side.
Was it finally his time, after coming close so many times? Would he become the second oldest Masters Champion?
We were many who sympathized with the man who broke through as a mere kid, but then missed 21 straight major cuts before eventually becoming a champion, who decided to try and qualify for The Open (where he eventually finished 2nd) when his ranking wasn’t good enough, and who told himself ”No, I want to compete on the highest level” when other stars of his generation made big money moves to LIV Golf.
Rose is easy to like, but the answer was ”no”. Once in the lead it was the Englishman’s time to shake. Missed greens on both 11 and 12, followed by nervous chipping resulted in bogeys. On 13 Rose had a chance to bounce back. He hit the perfect second shot, setting himself up for an eagle attempt – only to three-put and walk away with a disappointing par.
Justin Rose’s failure to convert in Amen Corner was another sign of how difficult it is to lead a golf tournament, let alone The Masters – and this was all Rory McIlroy needed to regain control of the proceedings.
A turbulent Saturday had meant Rory dropped his record six shot lead, and you can only imagine what had gone through Rory’s head during the past 24 hours.
Frustration, disappointment – even panic and anxiety over losing the biggest lead ever held in Masters history?
Yet, having been in a similar situation at The Masters one year prior, where he lost a lead but still ended up winning, surely provided both hope and comfort.
But maybe it was when his caddie and childhood friend Harry Diamond told him ”You would have taken this position if I offered it a week ago”, or maybe it was the majestic drive and perfect approach to the 7th. Because there and then something clicked for Rory.
A few minutes later he, for first time all week he, on number 8, hit the fairway on a par five, and it was like he finally was able to put his foot on the gas pedal again.
When the final pairing finished the 9th hole, Justin Rose was in the lead, five players were within a shot, but most importantly Rory McIlroy had regained momentum. On the 12th, he hit what might have been the best shot we saw all week on that hole, and he followed it up with another par 5 fairway hit and a birdie on 13 – a hole were he on all three prior rounds had found his ball in the right trees.
Now, the tournament was his.
The final threat would come from the world number 1. Friday night, Scottie Scheffler felt like he had played his way out of the tournament. After a disastrous second round 74, he was 12 shots behind going into the weekend. Two days later he was the one adding the heat on the final stretch.
Scheffler’s 68 shots Sunday meant Rory only lead by two teeing off on the 72nd and last hole.
Yet another time the tournament was Rory’s to loose. Could he handle the pressure?
Rory flared his drive way right and the ball ended up closer to the 10th than the 18th fairway, but it sat playable and he managed to hook the ball back up into the green side bunker. A bogey was enough to win by one shot and thanks to the smallest possible margin, Rory is now a two time Masters Champion.
Every round of golf is filled with endless twists and turns. There are nuances and layers, small details and big emotions that all play their roles.
At the same time as Rory McIlroy embodies the rollercoasters and inner battles that we all go through every time we tee up the ball, no golf tournament showcases the drama better than The Masters.
This is why we will remember this year’s tournament for a very long time.
And this is why we already are longing for what is next.