Tour Confidential: Unpacking Rory McIlroy’s dramatic Masters win

Check in every week for the unfiltered opinions of our writers and editors as they break down the hottest topics in the sport, and join the conversation by tweeting us at @golf_com. This week, we discuss Rory McIlroy’s thrilling Masters win and what to make of it going forward.

Rory McIlroy beat Justin Rose in a playoff to win the 2025 Masters, claiming his first major since 2014 and, more importantly, his first career green jacket, making him the sixth player ever to secure the career grand slam. How would you start to unpack that crazy finish?

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Jessica Marksbury, senior editor (@Jess_Marksbury): I feel absolutely wrecked, and all I did was watch! I cannot recall a Masters, or any tournament, for that matter, with so many twists and turns, ups and downs, and emotional investment. It was a nail-biter from the first hole. Jack Nicklaus said — and I’m paraphrasing— that he’s never seen so many good shots mixed with so many bad shots. He nailed it! It was outrageous, exciting, excruciating, like nothing I’ve ever watched. What Rory achieved was so wonderful. I think everyone watching wanted it for him. And his ultimate moment of catharsis on 18 — down on his knees, sobbing into the green —  brought tears to my eyes too. It was inspiring and awesome, literally everything you ask for in a sports story, or any human story, was on display today. I’m still in a state of recovery.

Josh Sens, senior writer (@JoshSens): By far the craziest tournament I’ve ever watched. It was hard to tell whether the golf gods were in an especially mischievous mood or if McIlroy was just messing with us. I think it’s fair to say by the wild swings in his play–and his intense emotion after–that playing with the weight of history – and with so many painful memories in the majors– isn’t easy. Fans have good reason to feel elated for Rory. And also maybe a little bad for Justin Rose.

Jack Hirsh, associate equipment editor (@JR_HIRSHey): How do I unpack that? I just had my heart ripped out of my chest only to have it sewn back in multiple times over the last several hours. I don’t think I’ve ever felt so strongly about a sports event since Tiger in 2019 and there wasn’t near as much drama as today. First McIlroy was blowing it, then he rallied, then he was dominating. Then he was playing safe, then he blew it. Then he rallied again. Then he blew it and then he finally won it. I’m tired just typing that. I think the important thing is this. Had McIlroy lost today, there was a real argument to be made that he might never have been able to recover from it. Now? He might be set up to win 10 more majors before he’s done (and maybe three more this year)!

McIlroy rebounded from a double bogey on the 1st hole, escaped some tree trouble with some magnificent approaches on the first nine and overcame a late double bogey and short missed putt on the 18th to eventually beat Rose in a playoff. What most impressed you about his victory?

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Marksbury: McIlroy showed some serious fight, but he didn’t appear to get too up or too down during the round. He stayed cool and collected, and that enabled him to continue hitting those miraculous shots. Even though he missed some makeable ones down the stretch, he still hit the shots he needed to give himself the opportunities.

Sens: There were so many moments where he could have just slumped his shoulders and slinked away. What must have been swirling through his head as it all seemed to be slipping away from him again. The fact that he was able to pull out of what looked like a self-inflicted death spiral is pretty remarkable.

Hirsh: My colleagues touched on the mental, but the physical is just as impressive. When we talk about 15 yesterday as well as 5, 7 and 15 today, he hit shots that I firmly believe he is the only human on the planet capable of hitting. Tiger used to do the same thing. No one was even thinking about going through some of the windows he tried on 5 and 7, his caddie even tried to talk him out of it, but he has so much speed and is able to elevate the ball so high, it’s truly remarkable. We’ve compared Scottie Scheffler’s winning ability to Tiger Woods, but we haven’t talked about (at least lately) how Rory is the closest thing physically we’ve seen since Tiger in his prime.

What do you think was the difference between this Rory and the version that’s had so many major close calls over the last couple of years?

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Marksbury: In his past near-misses, McIlroy’s body language was always very indicative of his mood — the lack of bounce in his walk, the pained expressions, the downcast eyes. I didn’t notice that on Sunday, although he had plenty of reason to be negative! But he stayed the course, which enabled him to ultimately capitalize on his final opportunity. He seems like a changed player in that sense, which is an impressive evolution.

Sens: I agree with you there, Jess. After he missed the putt on 18 in regulation, he grinned in a way that seemed pained but also borderline amused by the absurdity of it all. He’d said it all week—that this wasn’t a matter of life and death, that even the most brutal heartache can be overcome, and that he still believed in himself. His comportment all week suggested that those weren’t just empty words. 

Hirsh: To be honest, he finally got lucky. He still hit the bonehead wedge on 13 and missed the putts on 15, 16 and 18 in regulation, but this time there was no Cam Smith to boatrace him or Bryson DeChambeau to outduel him. That’s not a knock on McIlroy because winning major championships is simply hard and you need luck to get there. But when he hit his second at 11 and it stopped just inches before the water, I was convinced it was just his day.

Which non-winner is still leaving Augusta National pleased with their week, and which pro leaves still searching?

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Marksbury: Patrick Reed has to be thrilled with his performance this week — an out-of-nowhere 3rd-place finish, only two shots off the lead? That’s wild! He does have an excellent record at Augusta overall, but since the majors are the only opportunity we have to gauge LIV players against their PGA Tour peers, this has to feel like a big statement for him.

As for a searching pro, my heart aches a bit for Justin Rose. Man, what a performance, and so brutal to come up short yet again. And at 44 years old, he knows he’s on the back-nine of his already Hall-of-Fame worthy career. But I’m sure this one stings.

Sens: Max Homa has to feel pretty good. It’s been a rough season for him so far. Five straight missed cuts heading into Augusta. Nice to have him back.

Hirsh: Yeah, I’m jumping on the Justin Rose bandwagon. He’s now finished runner-up in the last two majors and he had to go through qualifying to get in the Open Championship! He’s clearly still got something left in the tank. It would be awesome to see him win again, especially after showing such class in defeat.

Gotta wonder where Nick Dunlap is at right now. His rally on Friday was inspiring, but 90 is a shocking score for a guy who won twice last year. Hard to remember he is still just 21.

What did you learn at Masters week?

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Marksbury: I had an idea that double-bogeys at Augusta equalled death, and winners need to shoot under par on Sunday. And Rory proved all of that wrong!

Sens: Great way to put it, Jess. I can’t top that. What I learned wasn’t so much a lesson, but a reminder. In golf–and in this golf tournament in particular–expect the unexpected.

Hirsh: That Rory McIlroy can hit a golf ball very, very high.

Come 2026 Masters week, there’s no more storyline focusing on Rory and his quest for the career grand slam. So, what will be the biggest storyline?

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Sens: Can Rory win his fifth straight major?

Marksbury: YES, Josh! Another one: Will Tiger play, and will he make the cut, is always a favorite. Other than that, I think it will be fun to track this growing contingent of players who are playing awesome at Augusta year after year. Scottie was three shots away from winning a third green jacket. Ludvig was in the mix again, and you have to think that Rory will continue to be a factory for years to come. Who will be the Masters king of the next generation?

Hirsh: Yeah, I agree with Sens too, and there’s more to unpack with that. McIlroy is setting himself up to have a Scheffler-like year, but maybe with more majors?! He’s won four times at Quail Hollow, site of the PGA Championship. The U.S. Open is at Oakmont, which should be tailor-made for a bomber like him. And the pièce de résistance? The Open Championship returns to Royal Portrush in his home country, where he owns the course record. He clearly has his sights set on leaving little doubt that he is Europe’s greatest player.