On the 10th hole, the golfer chips in for a hole-in-one to go 5 under. (0:33)
There have been many setbacks at the Masters for the golfer.
The career grand slam is a goal that has been accomplished seven times by the golfer. He failed to become the sixth man to do it during the Masters era.
This time, it felt like a victory, despite the fact that he didn't do it again on Sunday.
After starting the final round 10 shots behind leader Scottie Scheffler, he matched the lowest score ever for a final round at the Masters with an 8-under 64. Jordan Spieth was the last player to do it. The only one to have a bogey-free round in the tournament was the one by McIlroy.
After 72 holes, he was 3 shots back of the leader. It was the best finish of his career at Augusta National.
You dream about getting yourself in position. I was not close enough to the lead. Scottie is playing well. It is absolutely incredible that I was able to play as well as I did today and then finish like this.
On the 18th, the golfer hit his tee shot into the fairway. He hit his second shot into the greenside Bunker on the right. He watched his ball fall into the hole after chipping out high above the hole.
After climbing out of the hole, he hugged his caddie, Harry Diamond, after dropping his wedge in the sand. His playing partner holed out from the same hole a few moments later.
The tournament never ceases to impress, according to the golfer. I was happy for both of us to finish like this, because we both played so well all day, and I was just so happy for him. That was amazing. I have never heard roars like that on the 18th green. It was cool.
At Augusta National, it has not always been a good ending for McIlroy. The 21-year-old from Northern Ireland had a four-shot lead going into the final round of the 2011 Masters. His lead was cut to 1 shot going into the second nine. He made a triple-bogey on the 10th, three-putted for a bogey on the 11th and four-putted for a double bogey on the 12th. He was tied for 15th after shooting an 8-over 80 in the final round.
On the day after the collapse, the golfer made a joke about houses at Augusta National. He became one of the world's best players when he won the US Open later that year.
He's been trying to complete the career grand slam ever since. Gary Player and Gene Sarazen are the only other players who have done it.
Since completing the career grand slam, he has finished in the top 10 at the Masters six times. In the final group of the year, he was 3 shots behind Patrick Reed. The golfer shot a 2-over 74 and was tied for fifth.
This time it felt different. He conquered the golf course that has haunted him since that fateful Sunday in 2011.
I have always known that I can do it, I have played good enough around here to do that. It is just a matter of having that game for four days in a row and not making big numbers and shooting yourself in the foot. The first couple of days, that was my attitude. I did not do that. In the course of a tournament, you try to take advantage of some of the good golf that you play, and I did that today.
On two of the first three holes, he scored. He made a 4-footer on the third after nearly driving the green on the par-4. He made two long putts from off the green. On the 13th, on the par-5, he knocked his second shot from 203 yards to 10 feet and made an eagle.
I probably came up a little bit short, but I gave it a great go, and I can't ask for anything else. I will come back next year and try again.
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