Rory McIlroy has expressed his surprise at the immense reaction to his recent victory at the Masters, an achievement that completed his career Grand Slam. Since winning the Green Jacket in a playoff against Justin Rose, McIlroy has received messages of congratulations from a wide range of people, including two former U.S. presidents, Donald Trump and Barack Obama, as well as figures from various fields beyond sport. This outpouring of support, he admits, has been “absolutely amazing.”
Reflecting on his victory, McIlroy described the sense of fulfillment that came with achieving a lifelong dream. He emphasized how the victory resonated with people, with many reaching out from different walks of life sports, entertainment, and culture. McIlroy believes that his journey, particularly the struggles and challenges he faced along the way, has connected with others. The emotional release he felt at Augusta, where he secured the final major victory of his career, struck a chord with many who could relate to the pursuit of long-term goals.
After the Masters, McIlroy took some time to relax, spending time at his house near London before visiting his family in Northern Ireland. The celebrations were private and shared only with close family and friends. This victory makes McIlroy just the sixth golfer in history to complete the career Grand Slam, and he noted that professionally and personally, he couldn’t be in a better place in his life.
Now, McIlroy returns to action at the Zurich Classic of New Orleans, where he and Shane Lowry are the defending champions. Despite feeling slightly under the weather, McIlroy remains excited to compete. Lowry, reflecting on the final moments of the Masters, admitted he was unsure whether McIlroy would make the trip to New Orleans, especially after McIlroy’s struggles during the final round at Augusta. However, he is happy that McIlroy has made the decision to participate, adding a positive atmosphere to their title defense.
McIlroy, on the other hand, acknowledged the challenge of the final round at Augusta. He recalled the difficulty of playing through a tough 18 holes on Sunday, with the pressure building as the day went on. However, he’s confident that this experience will only boost his confidence in future tournaments, particularly as he faces another challenging event at the Zurich Classic. For McIlroy, it’s not about individual glory; it’s also about working alongside Lowry to secure a win for both of them.
The atmosphere at the Zurich Classic is a welcome one for McIlroy, with positive vibes from their success last year adding to the excitement. While he doesn’t expect to party every night, McIlroy is eager to enjoy the tournament and the camaraderie it offers. He mentioned that Lowry would likely do a significant portion of the work on the course, but that’s part of the team dynamic.
Looking ahead to the rest of 2025, McIlroy has set his sights on helping Europe retain the Ryder Cup at Bethpage. The tournament, which is one of the biggest events in professional golf, is a major goal for McIlroy this year. To further bolster their chances, José María Olazábal, the captain of Europe’s winning team at Medinah in 2012, will join Luke Donald’s backroom team as a vice-captain, adding another layer of experience to the squad.
Overall, McIlroy’s journey to completing the Grand Slam has been a remarkable one, with the victory at the Masters serving as a culmination of years of hard work. But now, with new goals on the horizon, he remains focused on maintaining his high level of play and continuing to build on his success in the sport.
