Tiger Woods welcomed Rory McIlroy to golf’s most unique membership after his dramatic victory within the Masters. McIlroy, born in Holywood, Co Down, defeated Justin Rose on the primary gap of a playoff at Augusta Nationwide to affix Woods, Jack Nicklaus, Gary Participant, Ben Hogan and Gene Sarazen in having received all 4 main titles.
“Welcome to the membership @McIlroyRory,” Woods posted on social media. The 15-time main winner, who achieved three grand slams, added: “Finishing the grand slam at Augusta is one thing particular. Your dedication throughout this spherical, and this whole journey has proven by way of, and now you’re part of historical past. Pleased with you!”
Participant, now 89, accomplished the grand slam in 1965 on his strategy to 9 main wins. He posted on X: “I need to lengthen my heartfelt congratulations to Rory McIlroy on his historic win on the Masters and completion of the profession Grand Slam.
“This is without doubt one of the rarest and most tough achievements in all of sport, one thing solely now six golfers in historical past have ever achieved. We’re proud so as to add Rory to our unique membership and little doubt he has set the usual for his period.
“Rory has made his mark on historical past, and all of us who love this sport are extremely proud. Properly performed, my good friend. Welcome to our membership.”
Nicklaus, whose first grand slam of three was accomplished a yr after Participant’s, spoke warmly of McIlroy’s exploits on CBS. “I’m so pleased for him. It is going to take the world off his shoulders and also you’re now going to see much more of actually good golf out of Rory McIlroy.”
McIlroy’s shut good friend and fellow participant Shane Lowry joked that McIlroy might fortunately retire after finishing the profession grand slam. “This implies every little thing to him,” Lowry informed Golf Channel. “That is all he thinks about, all he talks about. He at all times mentioned to me he’d retire a cheerful man if he received the Inexperienced Jacket, so I informed Erica [McIlroy’s wife] he can retire now. He’s had a protracted 10, 11 years, he’s had numerous hurdles to recover from and it’s a credit score to him.”
Tommy Fleetwood, like Lowry, is a Ryder Cup teammate of McIlroy, and completed tied for twenty first after a closing spherical of 69. “I’ve mentioned it a bunch of instances, Rory is the very best participant of our technology. I don’t suppose he’s needed to show that for some time,” he mentioned.
“For him to have lastly obtained this one, a profession grand slam, is unbelievably particular. This time was at all times going to return, it’s simply Rory makes you’re feeling prefer it’s not going to in some unspecified time in the future.
“No matter he did immediately, Rory’s place in golf [history] was safe, however this has simply added one other layer on high of that. I do consider he’s the very best of our technology and now he’s one of many best of all time.”
Michael D Higgins, the Irish president, joined political leaders in celebrating McIlroy’s victory, calling it a “really excellent achievement”. Northern Eire’s first minister, Michelle O’Neill, mentioned the “unimaginable” triumph positioned him among the many sport’s best. “This can be a large second in sporting historical past, and one which has crammed everybody again house with nice satisfaction and that can undoubtedly encourage future generations to chase their desires,” she posted on X. “Benefit from the well-deserved celebrations, Rory!”
The Irish taoiseach, Micheál Martin, posted on X: “The Inexperienced Jacket is yours Rory McIlroy. A end for the ages at Augusta to win The Masters and full a richly-deserved profession Grand Slam. Epic achievement by one among golf’s best skills.”
Keir Starmer additionally weighed in providing “huge congratulations” on “an unimaginable achievement”. The UK prime minister added: “Via all of the expectations and the rollercoaster journey of yesterday, Rory held his nerve and made historical past.”
The late-night end – with the playoff concluding simply after midnight BST – left Irish newspapers scrambling to replicate the momentous outcome of their last print editions. The Irish Occasions’s headline recognised “The Grasp” on their entrance web page: “Rory lastly conquers Augusta and completes Grand Slam”, including that the victory “seals place amongst immortals”.
The Belfast Telegraph saluted “Rory’s Grasp piece” after “last gap agony” turned to “play-off ecstasy”. The Irish Impartial carried an identical image of McIlroy roaring in delight after he had collapsed to his knees on sinking the profitable putt . It famous the “tears and cheers” on and across the 18th inexperienced. The Irish Day by day Star took an identical tack with “Rory’s Masters peace”, reflecting the load lifted off the 35-year-old’s shoulders.
The New York Occasions mirrored on the “curler coaster journey” on the ultimate day – and the three that had preceded it – that had led McIlroy to victory, whereas the LA Occasions mentioned: “Rory rose even greater”. The Washington Put up mirrored on a “wild” last spherical at Augusta, saying: “After a stomach-churning Sunday, Rory McIlroy appears grand in inexperienced.”
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