Rory McIlroy etches name into golf folklore by overcoming marriage woes to end Masters pain

ended an 11-year major championship drought overcoming years of personal turmoil, including marriage difficulties, to finally lift the remaining title for a historic grand slam.

His long and winding journey to golf's most elusive Green Jacket at culminated in a personal renaissance for the Northern Irishman, seeing him The final round began ominously with a double bogey on the first hole, immediately putting him level with Bryson DeChambeau.

But it was only the start of a round that proved to be a rollercoaster, featuring another double bogey on the 13th hole that threatened to derail his quest. However, McIlroy's resilience shone through as he delivered a pivotal birdie on the 15th hole, highlighted by a remarkable 207-yard approach that landed within six feet of the pin. The seven iron, hailed by commentators as "the shot of a lifetime," reignited his momentum and kept his Grand Slam hopes alive.

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Despite the setbacks, McIlroy finished the round tied at 11-under par with England's , who had mounted a formidable charge with a final-round 66. The tournament proceeded to a sudden-death playoff, where the dad-of-one's composure under pressure proved decisive.

He secured victory with a birdie on the first playoff hole, while Rose narrowly missed his attempt. The triumph not only added a fifth major title to McIlroy's resume but also made him the first European golfer to complete the career Grand Slam, joining the exclusive club of Ben Hogan, , Gene Sarazen, , and .

The golfer had not lifted one of the sport's premier tournaments since 2014, when he won the US Open while his life off the course began to implode. McIlroy was overcome with tears of joy as he embraced his wife, Erica Stoll, whom he had filed to divorce less than 12 months before. In emotionally charged scenes after finally winning the Masters, the 35-year-old finally slayed his demons after 11 more than a decade of trying, pipping Justin Rose to the Green Jacket in a dramatic playoff.

Following a turbulent year off the course, he emerged from a chaotic final round of the 2025 Masters a champion, and the Irishman toasted the long-awaited end to his drought with Erica, 37, and daughter Poppy. McIlroy's Masters triumph completed his career Grand Slam and solidified his legacy as one of the game's greats.

His journey, marked by early promise, personal trials, and ultimate redemption, serves as an inspiring narrative of perseverance and resilience. As he stood on the 18th green, Green Jacket on his shoulders, McIlroy's tears spoke volumes about the moment's significance.

The freshly-crowned five-time major winner later paid tribute to his family during the ceremony. "Last but not least, over to my left, my family, my team," he said, trailing off as the tears threatened to spill again. "They've been on this journey with me the whole way through. They know the burden that I've carried to come here every year and try and try and try again," he continued after recomposing himself. The one thing I would say to my daughter Poppy, never give up on your dreams. Never ever give up on your dreams. Keep coming back. Keep working hard."

was among the well-wishers to congratulate McIlroy picking up on the struggles the golfer has endured. “I have to congratulate Rory,” Trump said, addressing reporters on Air Force One. “That took tremendous courage. He was having a hard time, but it showed great guts and stamina and courage. People have no idea how tough that is. He came back. It's better for him that it happened that way because that showed real courage to have come back from what could've been a tragedy – it was amazing.”

McIlroy and Stoll have put on a united front all week at Augusta National - almost one year on from the beginning of their bombshell divorce drama. The player sent shockwaves through the golfing when he filed for divorce from his wife of eight years last May - just days before the beginning of the PGA Championship, the second major championship of the golfing calendar.

In papers filed in Flordia, near where the couple lives, McIlroy cited an "irretrievably broken" marriage. However, within a month, the golfer and Stoll reconciled, with the Northern Irishman stating, "Over the past weeks, Erica and I have realised that our best future was as a family together. Thankfully, we have resolved our differences and look forward to a new beginning".

This personal reconciliation appeared to have a rejuvenating effect on McIlroy's professional life. He enjoyed a resurgence on the PGA Tour, beginning with a strong showing at the 2024 US Open and multiple tour wins, earning £16.8 million in prize money. The PGA Tour icon left golfing fans further shocked when he performed a U-turn just a month later, calling off his divorce from Stoll ahead of last year's US Open.

Despite his stellar career filled with major championships and PGA wins, McIlroy's relationships have sometimes created more headlines than his . One of the most notable was with Danish tennis star . The couple began dating in 2011 and quickly became a sports power couple. Their relationship was highly publicised, with both attending each other's events and sharing glimpses of their lives on social media.

They got engaged on New Year's Eve in 2013, but in May 2014, McIlroy ended the engagement just days after the wedding invitations were sent out. He later said that he realised he wasn't ready for all that marriage entails, and the split was sudden but amicable.

Before Wozniacki, McIlroy was linked to Holly Sweeney, his childhood sweetheart. Their relationship began when the golfer was just a teenager, and they dated for several years before breaking up in 2011, shortly before he started dating Wozniacki. Despite their split, McIlroy has often spoken fondly of Sweeney, acknowledging her support during the early years of his career.

After his high-profile breakup with Wozniacki, McIlroy was briefly linked to several women, including model Sasha Gale. However, it was in 2015 that McIlroy found love with New Yorker Stoll, a former PGA of America employee. The couple met three years earlier when she helped the Irishman make his tee time after he overslept at the .

They started dating in 2015 and got engaged in Paris later that year. In April 2017, they tied the knot in a lavish ceremony at Ashford Castle in Ireland before welcoming Poppy in August 2020.

Entering the final round at Augusta National with a four-shot lead, McIlroy faced mounting pressure to secure the only major title that had eluded him.

Back in McIlroy's hometown of Holywood, Northern Ireland, celebrations erupted as locals gathered to watch their native son achieve golfing immortality. The Holywood Golf Club, where McIlroy honed his skills as a young prodigy, hosted a viewing party that transformed into a jubilant celebration. Club members and residents alike toasted McIlroy's victory, proud of the global success of one of their own.

The victory resonated deeply in Holywood, a town that has closely followed McIlroy's career from his early days swinging clubs as a toddler to his ascent as one of golf's premier talents. The communal pride was palpable, reflecting the strong connection between McIlroy and his roots.