The 2025 Masters Tournament delivered exceptional drama as Rory McIlroy finally secured his career Grand Slam with a thrilling playoff victory over Justin Rose at Augusta National. After finishing tied at -11 after 72 holes, McIlroy clinched the green jacket on the first playoff hole with a clutch birdie. This historic win completes McIlroy’s collection of all four major championships, placing him in elite company with only five other golfers who have achieved this remarkable feat in golf’s modern era.
2025 Masters Tournament Results: Rory McIlroy’s Playoff Victory Over Justin Rose
🏆 Tournament Highlights
The 2025 Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club provided golf fans with an unforgettable spectacle as Rory McIlroy finally conquered his Augusta demons to claim the coveted green jacket. McIlroy’s victory was especially sweet as it completed his career Grand Slam, making him only the sixth golfer in history to achieve this monumental feat.
Both McIlroy and England’s Justin Rose finished regulation play tied at 11-under par, setting up a dramatic playoff. On the first playoff hole (the 18th), McIlroy hit a spectacular approach shot to within 8 feet of the pin and converted the birdie putt while Rose could only manage par, giving the Northern Irishman his first Masters title after years of near misses at Augusta.
Patrick Reed finished in solo third place at -9, while pre-tournament favorite Scottie Scheffler ended in fourth place at -8. South Korea’s Sungjae Im and big-hitting Bryson DeChambeau tied for fifth place at -7.
📊 TOP 10 Final Leaderboard
| POS. | PLAYER | EARNINGS |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rory McIlroy | $4,200,000 |
| 2 | Justin Rose | $2,268,000 |
| 3 | Patrick Reed | $1,428,000 |
| 4 | Scottie Scheffler | $1,008,000 |
| T5 | Sungjae Im | $798,000 |
| T5 | Bryson DeChambeau | $798,000 |
| 7 | Ludvig Aberg | $703,500 |
| T8 | Jason Day | $588,000 |
| T8 | Corey Conners | $588,000 |
| T8 | Xander Schauffele | $588,000 |
| T8 | Zach Johnson | $588,000 |
⚡ The Playoff Drama
The playoff between McIlroy and Rose was the culmination of a dramatic final round at Augusta. After both players finished at -11, they headed back to the 18th tee for the sudden-death playoff. Rose found the fairway with his drive but his approach came up just short of the green. McIlroy, meanwhile, hit a magnificent 7-iron from 172 yards to within 8 feet of the hole.
Rose’s chip ran past the hole, leaving him about 12 feet for par. McIlroy, with ice in his veins, rolled in his birdie putt to clinch his first green jacket and the career Grand Slam.
“I’ve waited a long time for this moment,” an emotional McIlroy said during the green jacket ceremony. “To finally win at Augusta and complete the Grand Slam is beyond my wildest dreams. I’ve had my heartbreaks here, but that makes this moment even sweeter.”
🏆 Rory McIlroy’s Career and Grand Slam Achievement
Rory McIlroy’s journey to completing the career Grand Slam has been one of golf’s most compelling narratives. His Masters victory adds to his previous major championships:
- US Open (2011): First major victory at Congressional by 8 strokes
- PGA Championship (2012): Won at Kiawah Island by 8 strokes
- Open Championship (2014): Victory at Royal Liverpool
- PGA Championship (2014): Second PGA title at Valhalla
- Masters Tournament (2025): Completed the career Grand Slam
With this victory, McIlroy joins the elite company of Gene Sarazen, Ben Hogan, Gary Player, Jack Nicklaus, and Tiger Woods as the only golfers to have achieved the modern career Grand Slam. At 35 years old, McIlroy becomes the second youngest player after Tiger Woods to complete this remarkable achievement in the modern era.
💡 The Significance of the Career Grand Slam
The career Grand Slam represents the pinnacle of achievement in professional golf. It demonstrates a player’s complete skill set and ability to win on vastly different courses and setups:
- The Masters: Tests creativity, touch, and course management on Augusta’s undulating terrain
- The U.S. Open: Demands precision and mental toughness on typically the most difficult setup of the year
- The Open Championship: Requires adaptability and shot-making in links conditions
- The PGA Championship: Tests all-around excellence on varied championship courses
Only achieving success across all these different challenges proves a golfer’s complete mastery of the game. The rarity of this accomplishment—with only six players achieving it in the modern era—underscores just how difficult it is to accomplish.
🔍 Players Who Could Complete the Career Grand Slam Next
Several current players are just one major championship away from joining this exclusive club:
1. Jordan Spieth
Needs: PGA Championship
Already has Masters (2015), U.S. Open (2015), and Open Championship (2017). Has come close at the PGA with a 2nd place finish in 2015. At 31, still has many opportunities ahead.
2. Phil Mickelson
Needs: U.S. Open
Has won the Masters (2004, 2006, 2010), PGA Championship (2005, 2021), and Open Championship (2013). Finished runner-up in the U.S. Open a record six times. At 54, time is running out for Mickelson.
3. Brooks Koepka
Needs: Masters
Has won the U.S. Open (2017, 2018), PGA Championship (2018, 2019, 2023), and has been close at Augusta. His power game suits Augusta National well. At 34, he has multiple opportunities ahead.
📰 Other Tournament Storylines
Justin Rose’s Near Miss
Despite the playoff loss, Justin Rose’s performance was remarkable. At 44 years old, the Englishman showed he still has the game to compete at the highest level. Rose’s second-place finish moves him back into the world’s top 20 rankings.
Patrick Reed’s Resurgence
Former Masters champion Patrick Reed showed a return to form with his solo third-place finish. Reed played consistently all week, with rounds of 69-70-68-70, and briefly held the lead during Saturday’s third round.
Ludvig Aberg Impresses
Swedish phenom Ludvig Aberg continued his rapid ascent in professional golf with an impressive 7th place finish in just his first Masters appearance. The 25-year-old demonstrated remarkable poise and skill on Augusta’s challenging layout.
Tiger Woods’ Augusta Return
Though not finishing in the top 50, Tiger Woods made his 29th Masters appearance and delighted fans by making the cut. While his final position wasn’t what the 15-time major champion hoped for, his presence added to the tournament’s allure.
🔮 Looking Ahead: PGA Tour Schedule
With the first major of the year completed, attention now turns to the remaining majors of 2025:
- PGA Championship: Oakmont Country Club (May 15-18)
- U.S. Open: Pebble Beach Golf Links (June 12-15)
- The Open Championship: Royal Portrush (July 17-20)
The victory at Augusta propels McIlroy to a strong position in the FedEx Cup standings as he looks to maintain momentum through the rest of the season.
📋 Complete Leaderboard
| POS. | PLAYER | EARNINGS |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rory McIlroy | $4,200,000 |
| 2 | Justin Rose | $2,268,000 |
| 3 | Patrick Reed | $1,428,000 |
| 4 | Scottie Scheffler | $1,008,000 |
| T5 | Sungjae Im | $798,000 |
| T5 | Bryson DeChambeau | $798,000 |
| 7 | Ludvig Aberg | $703,500 |
| T8 | Jason Day | $588,000 |
| T8 | Corey Conners | $588,000 |
| T8 | Xander Schauffele | $588,000 |
| T8 | Zach Johnson | $588,000 |
| T12 | Harris English | $462,000 |
| T12 | Max Homa | $462,000 |
| T14 | Bubba Watson | $336,000 |
| T14 | Tyrrell Hatton | $336,000 |
| T14 | Matt McCarty | $336,000 |
| T14 | Tom Hoge | $336,000 |
| T14 | Collin Morikawa | $336,000 |
| T21 | Hideki Matsuyama | $210,000 |
| T21 | Davis Riley | $210,000 |
| T21 | Tommy Fleetwood | $210,000 |
| T21 | Daniel Berger | $210,000 |
| T21 | Byeong Hun An | $210,000 |
| T21 | Viktor Hovland | $210,000 |
| T27 | Aaron Rai | $158,500 |
| T27 | Michael Kim | $158,500 |
| T29 | Sahith Theegala | $142,800 |
| T29 | Denny McCarthy | $142,800 |
| T29 | Joaquin Niemann | $142,800 |
| T32 | Brian Campbell | $118,860 |
| T32 | Maverick McNealy | $118,860 |
| T32 | Rasmus Hojgaard | $118,860 |
| T32 | Max Greyserman | $118,860 |
| T36 | Justin Thomas | $96,600 |
| T36 | Brian Harman | $96,600 |
| T36 | Patrick Cantlay | $96,600 |
| T36 | Charl Schwartzel | $96,600 |
| T40 | Matt Fitzpatrick | $84,000 |
| T40 | Nick Taylor | $84,000 |
| T42 | Akshay Bhatia | $77,700 |
| T42 | Danny Willett | $77,700 |
| T42 | J.T. Poston | $77,700 |
| T42 | Shane Lowry | $77,700 |
| T46 | Wyndham Clark | $59,535 |
| T46 | Sam Burns | $59,535 |
| T46 | Davis Thompson | $59,535 |
| 49 | Min Woo Lee | $59,535 |
| 50 | J.J. Spaun | $52,920 |
| 51 | Nico Echavarria | $51,660 |
| T52 | Stephan Jaeger | $51,660 |
| T52 | Tom Kim | $51,660 |
❓ Q&A About the 2025 Masters Tournament
Q: How did Rory McIlroy win the 2025 Masters?
A: Rory McIlroy won the 2025 Masters in a playoff against Justin Rose after both finished regulation play at -11. McIlroy birdied the first playoff hole (the 18th) while Rose made par.
Q: How much prize money did McIlroy receive for winning the Masters?
A: Rory McIlroy received $4,200,000 for his victory at the 2025 Masters Tournament.
Q: Who has achieved the career Grand Slam in golf?
A: Only six golfers have achieved the career Grand Slam: Gene Sarazen, Ben Hogan, Gary Player, Jack Nicklaus, Tiger Woods, and now Rory McIlroy.
Q: Who finished in the top 5 at the 2025 Masters?
A: The top 5 finishers were: 1. Rory McIlroy, 2. Justin Rose, 3. Patrick Reed, 4. Scottie Scheffler, T5. Sungjae Im and Bryson DeChambeau.
Q: Which players are closest to achieving the career Grand Slam next?
A: Jordan Spieth (needs the PGA Championship), Phil Mickelson (needs the U.S. Open), and Brooks Koepka (needs the Masters) are all one major championship away from completing the career Grand Slam.
🏁 Conclusion
The 2025 Masters Tournament will be remembered as a historic milestone in golf history, with Rory McIlroy finally capturing the one major that had eluded him for so long. His playoff victory over Justin Rose provided the perfect dramatic ending to what was already an exciting tournament.
McIlroy’s completion of the career Grand Slam cements his legacy among golf’s all-time greats and answers the question that had followed him since his early successes: “When will Rory win the Masters?” For McIlroy, the long wait and numerous disappointments at Augusta have finally been replaced by the sweet taste of victory and the honor of joining golf’s most exclusive club.
As Augusta National closes its gates until next April, the memory of McIlroy’s triumph—his perfect approach shots, clutch putting on the playoff hole, and the emotional embrace with his family behind the 18th green—will endure as one of the tournament’s most memorable moments.
Tags: #MastersTournament2025 #RoryMcIlroy #CareerGrandSlam #JustinRose #AugustaNational #PGATour #GolfMajors #PlayoffVictory #GreenJacket #GolfChampionship
