In 2014, Rory McIlroy won his third major at the British Open. At that point, he was one major away from completing the Grand Slam (a combination of winning all four major championships). Rory now just needed a win on the biggest stage of his life, The Masters. After 11 years of falling short, it was looking like Rory would never get his green jacket, but this Masters tournament had something special in mind.
Rory looked like he was going to have a solid finish on the first day as he was four under through 14 holes until tragedy struck. Rory went on to double-bogey holes 15 and 17, ultimately ending the first day at even par. After shooting six under par on both the second and third days of the tournament, Rory would be in first place with a total of -12 as he led the tournament by two strokes. At this point, all Rory would need to do is hold the lead during the last round, and he would complete the grand slam.
After doubling the first hole, Rory would lose his lead on the second once Bryson Dechambeau made his birdie putt. Rory would go on to retake his lead and start to pull away as he was now -14 leading the tournament by four strokes.
Just as it was looking like Rory had the win in his grasp, tragedy would strike again. After bogeying hole 11, hitting his third shot in the water on hole 13, causing him to double it, and bogeying hole 14, Rory’s lead had dissipated. Rory was now tied with Justin Rose and Ludvig Åberd at -10, with Patrick Reed at -9 and Scottie Scheffler at -8.
With Rory’s lead now gone, he was looking to once again take control of the tournament. With a not-so-great look at the pin on hole 15, it was looking likely that Rory would end up with a par. But with one of the greatest shots in Masters history, Rory now had an amazing look at eagle. Although Rory would go on to miss the eagle putt, he would still walk away with a birdie, and the lead, as he now led the tournament by one stroke.
Going into the 17th hole, Rory now shared fourth place with Justin Rose. With a masterful second shot on hole 17, Rory had a tap-in putt for birdie, and once again held the lead. All he would need to do now is hold it. With only a six-footer left for par on hole 18, it was looking like Rory was going to complete his journey for the grand slam in a matter of seconds. Just as this was seeming likely, Rory’s worst fear came true, he missed the winning putt. The Masters was now going to sudden death for the first since 2017.
With a striped drive down the middle of the fairway from Justin Rose, all the pressure in the world was on Rory’s back. But even with all that pressure, Rory still managed to stripe his drive down the right side of the fairway to set himself up for a good approach shot. With a close second shot by Rose, the Pressure was yet again on Rory to hit a good shot. Despite the pressure, Rory still produced. He hit an electric shot which landed past the hole and spun back to give Rory a three foot putt for victory. After a missed putt from Justin Rose that would probably send this tournament into a second playoff hole, Rory now had a clear lane to victory. Rory’s putt was a slow roller to the left-center of the cup that dropped in, causing the crowd to erupt with roars. The wait was now over, Rory finally got his Grand Slam.
