Major tournament in Augusta: Tears and congratulations: Mcilroy completes golf-grand slam

Rory McIlroy sobbed her knees and let the tears run wild, then the entire tension at the golf star loosened with a primal scream. Around the green, the deafening “Rory” calls opened, who had already accompanied the entire tournament in Augusta to the Northern Irish. McIlroy had done it.

After eleven years and many unsuccessful attempts, the 35-year-old was the first European to complete the career Grand Slam with the victory at the Masters. McIlroy has now won the four most important tournaments and received the longed -for green jacket for the winner from the beaten defending champion Scottie Scheffler – there was probably no one who would not have granted him.

“Welcome to the club,” wrote US golf icon Tiger Woods as one of many well-wishers. This included not only colleagues, but also football star Patrick Mahomes, the former tennis dominator Rafael Nadal and prominent actor like Ben Stiller.

Jokes again after the tears

“I was not sure if I would ever make it,” said McIlroy after the redeeming triumph in the 17th attempt and was back to joking after his tears. “After so many years with the burden of the Grand Slam on my shoulders, however, I wonder what we should talk about next year.”

The other Majors – the British Open, the US Open and the PGA Championship – had already won the long -time world rankings. However, his last triumph had been eleven years ago. In addition to the green jacket, Mcilroy received over $ 4.2 million prize money (around 3.7 million euros), the tournament in Georgia was endowed with $ 21 million.

McIlroy goes with a leadership into the final day

In his speech, the winner paid tribute to his Caddie Harry Diamond, a friend since childhood in Northern Ireland. “He was like a big brother for me all my life,” said McIlroy with tears in his eyes: “I couldn’t imagine anyone with whom I could share it with him.”

On the way to the title, after a real roller coaster ride through the four tournament days, McIlroy had to struggle with the emotions. Two 66 rounds had followed an average start with 72 strokes, after which Mcilroy went to the final day with a guided tour.

However, Justin Rose trumped there. The Englishman, who led the tableau after the first few days, stood up to the leader with a 66 piece by piece, while Mcilroy first failed to hole 13 and finally in the final putt to the supposed historical victory. Both opponents had needed exactly 277 strokes for the four rounds and had remained eleven blows under par.

McIlroy uses the second chance

The decision therefore had to be made in the so -called playoff. To do this, both players competed again on hole 18, where McIlroy had left the victory just minutes earlier. The tension was tangible, the pressure at the northern Irish. Meanwhile, in his home club Holywood GC on the edge of Belfast, people were strongly involved, dozens of fans followed the showdown at public viewing. Rose had to put it from a much larger distance and narrowly missed, after which McIlroy remained strong on the second attempt.

Patrick Reed from the USA took third place in Augusta with nine strokes under par. His compatriot Bryson Dechambeau, before the final round McIlroy’s worst rival and therefore his partner at the last run, could not build on his performance and fell back to fifth after a 75. Fourth became Scheffler, who, despite Mcilroys Triumph, continues to cite the world rankings.

Hunter crashes on the final day

For Germany’s golf icon Bernhard Langer, the last start at his favorite tournament at the cut ended after two rounds. The second German starter Stefan Jäger had survived the cut, but after a weak 78 round on the end of the end, however, fell back to the divided last place (+9).