Moments after winning the Masters to complete a career Grand Slam, Rory McIlroy could be seen embracing a woman at the end of his championship walk. The woman in question was none other than Kate Rose, the wife of his defeated rival Justin, and McIlroy’s actions point to the closeness between the two top finishers at Augusta.
It was an emotional moment for McIlroy, who has had to wait more than a decade to complete the set of four majors after winning the Open and US PGA in 2014. Those emotions were written all over his face as he shared a long hug, and a few words, with friend Kate.
The final day at Augusta was a topsy-turvy one for McIlroy. Bryson DeChambeau was his closest challenger at the start of the day, but Justin Rose roared into contention with a final round 66.
Both McIlroy and Rose might have won without the need for a play-off, but they ultimately ended up locked together on -11 for the weekend. After Rose failed to convert a birdie putt, his opponent took advantage to banish the demons of his past near-misses.
McIlroy, 35, shared a heartfelt moment with wife Erica and daughter Poppy after clinching victory. And his subsequent embrace with Kate came after Justin’s own gesture to his conqueror.
“I just said, listen, this is a historic moment in golf, isn’t it, someone who achieves the career Grand Slam. I said it was pretty cool to be able to share that moment with him,” Justin Rose said. “Obviously I wanted to be the bad guy today, but still, it’s a momentous occasion for the game of golf.”
McIlroy had an emotional message of his own for his four-year-old daughter after getting the job done. “The one thing I would say to my daughter Poppy over there, Never give up on your dreams,” he said.
“Never, ever give up on your dreams. Keep coming back, keep working hard, and if you put your mind to it you can do anything. Love you.”
McIlroy’s Players Championship victory in March left him in the kind of form he needed to triumph at Augusta National, and back-to-back 66s in rounds two and three allowed him to believe. He had to conquer nerves to get over the line, though, and opened up on his battle.
“The last 10 years coming with the burden of Grand Slam on my shoulders and trying to achieve that,” he said. “I wonder what we are all going to talk about coming into next year. I am so proud to be able to call myself a Masters champion.
“All week I responded to setbacks and that’s what I’ll remember. I’m so proud of that and being able to bounce back. I would say it was 14 years in the making. Going out with a four-shot lead in 2011 and feeling like I could have got it done there. A lot of pent-up emotion came out on the 18th green.
“A moment like that makes all the years and all the close calls worth it. I want to say hello to mum and dad back in Northern Ireland. I can’t wait to see them next week and can’t wait to celebrate with them.”
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