Rory McIlroy ended his major drought last year by winning the Masters title in dramatic fashion. The Northern Irishman, now a five-time major champion, won a heart-stopping playoff round against American Justin Rose to claim the title.
Rory McIlroy ended his major drought last year by winning the Masters title in dramatic fashion.
The Northern Irishman, now a five-time major champion, won a heart-stopping playoff round against American Justin Rose to claim the title.
With the weight of the world on his shoulders, McIlroy hit a superb approach shot to put him within three feet of the pin, before securing a birdie to win the title.
McIlroy’s victory meant he became only the sixth golfer in history to complete the career Grand Slam, joining Tiger Woods, Ben Hogan, Gary Player, Jack Nicklaus and Gene Sarazen.
Tennis legend Rafael Nadal has since reacted to McIlory’s triumph, revealing that he was ‘very emotional’ in the aftermath.
Rafael Nadal thinks Rory McIlroy will win more major titles
McIlroy has been nominated for the Laureus World Comeback of the Year Award alongside tennis star Amanda Anisimova, cyclists Egan Bernal and Simon Yates, triple jumper Yulimar Rojas and footballer Leah Williamson.
Rafael Nadal, a 20-time Grand Slam champion and winner of 10 Laureus sports awards, has reflected on McIlroy’s astonishing Masters triumph.
“Well, I’ve been very emotional, no?” said Nadal in a sit-down interview with Laureus. “I had tears in my eyes for a lot of minutes after his victory. Very, very special.
“Coming from a sports world, I understand 100 per cent how much he suffered during… especially this last round.
“And yeah, 11 years without winning a major for a player like Rory, the amount of pressure he had to hold, to survive through this last round and the attack of Justin Rose, who had been amazing and he’s a gentleman too. It was so special.
“But I think the player who deserved the most at the end [to] win, because the kind of player that Rory is, it’s something special, no? And I like him a lot as a person too.
“So I’m very, very happy and I was very emotional after his victory. He deserved it. Hopefully it’s the beginning of something very special.
“I text him of course, after the victory and as always, he replied with a message. Very happy for him, especially [after] what happened to him last year at the US Open.
“It’s the right way to come back to the winning chapter of majors and I’m sure there will be more.”
What did Rory McIlroy say after winning the Masters?
It was an emotional moment for the 36-year-old, who had cemented his status as one of the greatest golfers in history.
“It feels incredible,” McIlroy told Sky Sports. “This is my 17th time here, and I started to wonder if it would ever be my time.
“I’d say it was 14 years in the making, from going out with the four-shot lead in 2011 – feeling like I could have got it done there.
“There was a lot of pent-up emotion that just came out on the 18th green. But a moment like that makes all of the years and close calls worth it.”
To date, McIlroy has won 29 PGA Tour events and has earned $110,124,516 in prize money.
McIlroy, who turned professional in 2007, is yet to win a Tour event this year, but has finished in the top 25 twice.
Category: General Sports
