Rory McIlroy’s victory at the 2025 Masters will go down as one of the most dramatic golf matches in major championship history. Thankfully, this ultimately allowed him to complete the career grand slam, otherwise we would still be dissecting the tee shot on the 13th hole and the approach on the 72nd hole.
McIlroy actually shot 72-66-66-73 during the week. From holes 3 to 10 on Sunday, he was 4 under, for a total of 14 under. He finished with -11 and won the first extra hole.
We take a look at seven of his most clutch shots from Sunday’s Masters.
1) Birdie on hole 3
On paper, he should birdie this hole more often, but this hole came after a horrible start and featured a horrific Sunday pin that cut to the front edge. His tee shot could hit the green, and his second shot would have to be aimed 10 yards to the right of the flagstick.
During the press conference, he singled out the hole.
“Probably the best shot I hit was the second shot on No. 7, but the most important shot to me was the second shot on No. 3. I started hitting shots 6, 5. Hit a great tee shot on No. 3, which was not an easy second shot, and hit the ball up the hill. To judge well and make a 3, when Bryson shot a 5 and then go on to birdie the next hole, I thought that was a big moment.
“It was a little chip bump and run on the hill with a lob wedge.”
If you get a chance to watch it again, see how far to the left he aims his putter and listen for the roar.
2) Method 7
He hit it to the right on Saturday, and this time he pulled out the fairway wood. On the surface, it seemed like he didn’t stand a chance.
“This week, every time I hit the ball in the trees, I had a gap. The second shot on No. 7, I probably shouldn’t have made the ball. Harry told me not to do it. I was like, ‘No, no, I can do this.’ “
“I’ve had issues with tee shots on Nos. 7, 14 and 17 all week, and for some reason, all the tee shots were going that way – I just had a hard time seeing the tee shot. I knew the front bunker was fine. I could have chased the ball to the front bunker, but I saw a gap and I thought, I can actually hit it on the green and if it goes into that little bowl, it can be close. It was pretty cool to be able to pull it off, even though I didn’t have the hole for that putt.”
The reaction to this shot, a lot of uncontrollable giggling, tells us a lot that what’s going on in his head is not exactly peaceful.
3) Kick-off to 12
McIlroy made four 3-pointers all week. If something dramatic was going to happen, this was a prime suspect, but he played it very nicely and reservedly. Fifteen minutes later, he hit the worst shot of his entire career.
4) 2nd to 15th
This is one that’s easier to replay than any of the others, given what happened before, the shape of the shot, and the grand setting.
“I had the 8-iron in my hand and Bryson hit it first and hit it into the water. There was a slight breeze, so I switched back to the 7-iron and hit that shot. It was one of those shots that I knew would be enough to cover, and if it spins, that’s great, and if it doesn’t spin, you’re in the right trap, and it’s not an easy up and down, but it was a good miss.”
McIlroy actually missed a series of very likely putts that should have slipped past him for eagle, but the approach shot did get him going again.
5) Method 17
After hitting a semi-weak tee shot with the 3-wood, McIlroy dropped his 8-iron from the sky, landing several feet away. It’s the anguished cry of “go, go…” that sets the man apart, leaving him with “just” a simple par in the end…
6) Kick-off No. 18
Things didn’t work out the way many of us had hoped, but the kickoff deserves credit. Standing on the 72nd tee in his 17th Masters, he needed four strokes to win. He clipped the driver and messed up a lot of tee shots throughout the day.
Then he missed the green with his wedge.
7) 18 Methods, Part 2
The fact that he was playing with Justin Rose certainly helped, and he was the last player to leave the court.
“After the score, Harry and I were walking to the golf cart to take us back to the 18th tee, and he said to me, ‘Well, man, we could have gotten this on Monday morning. This is a simple reset. “
The real-time offense fanned right into the sand, but as Rose got closer, McIlroy drained a 3-pointer.
“I lost two yards in the playoff than I did in regulation. It was also a flatter lie, so I knew I had a perfect three-quarters gap wedge; it was going to drop into the slope and come back. So it was a good number. I just had to make a good, solid swing, and I hit one at the right time.”
Read next: Is Rory McIlroy really the best European golfer of all time?
