McIlroy finally triumphs at Masters to seal grand slam

Rory McIlroy ended his major drought in barely believable fashion by dramatically beating Justin Rose in a play-off to finally win the Masters and complete the career grand slam.

- PHIL CASEY

McIlroy birdied the first extra hole after the pair had finished tied on 11 under par following an extraordinary final round.

On his 11th attempt to join golf’s most exclusive club and 3,900 days after his last major victory in the 2014 US PGA, McIlroy almost threw away a five-shot lead before claiming a coveted green jacket at a pulsating Augusta National.

After inexplicably dumping his third shot to the 13th into Rae’s Creek to run up a second double bogey of the day, McIlroy also bogeyed the 14th before birdies on the 15th and 17th edged him a shot ahead of Rose.

Rose then set the clubhouse target on 11 under thanks to his 10th birdie of the day on the 18th in a remarkable closing 66, before McIlroy missed from five feet for par on the same hole to claim the title.

The players returned to the 18th for extra holes and after Rose missed his birdie attempt, McIlroy holed from three feet before sinking to his knees and sobbing in relief.

The win makes McIlroy the first player in a quarter of a century to complete the career grand slam and match the feats of Gene Sarazen (completed in 1935), Ben Hogan (1953), Gary Player (1965), Jack Nicklaus (1966) and Tiger Woods (2000).