1 week Ago By Daniel Blackham
Jordan Spieth was full of class as he threw his support behind Rory McIlroy during Sunday's final round at the Masters. The former Green Jacket winner , who shot a solid three-under-par in his final round to give himself a shot at a top-15 finish, was asked about his PGA Tour rival's bid for the career Grand Slam - which McIlroy will complete if he can hold off Bryson DeChambeau , Justin Rose and the trailing pack at Augusta National. Spieth, who battled with McIlroy for major championships on multiple occasions during his prime, gave his public support to his old rival and said the Northern Irishman would be a worthy winner.
McIlroy was made to wait and endure a torrid end to the tournament, before defeating Justin Rose in a playoff to win his first Green Jacket. He said: "I think he's more than deserving of having that honor [Grand Slam]. He's obviously in control.
If he gets to 14 with a decent lead, with the way he's driving the ball and the way he's striking his irons, he should be in pretty good position." McIlroy went into the week's play in Georgia as he always has done over the last ten years, with all the pressure of the golfing world waiting to see if he'll finally complete the career Grand Slam. It's been 11 years since his last major championship win, and the 43-time winner on the PGA Tour has had so many heartbreaking moments at Augusta National.
McIlroy started his round on Sunday two shots ahead of LIV Golf man DeChambeau, but that lead vanished by the time the pair reached the tee on the second hole. McIlroy was made to pay for a sloppy tee shot on the first hole and double-bogeyed, while DeChambeau held par to have a share of the lead. The four-time major champion recovered well from that initial blip, however, and parred the second hole before back-to-back birdies saw him retake the lead and extend it to three shots.
The tide appeared to turn for good on the 11th hole as McIlroy, with a risky approach shot, ended up just inches away from the water to the left side of the green. DeChambeau followed up and failed to match his rival, putting his second shot straight in the back of the pond. McIlroy ended up bogeying, but DeChambeau hit a double, before then dropping another shot on 12 to almost fall out of contention completely at six-under.
DeChambeau's mood was clear to see on the 13th tee box as, despite bombing his drive down the fairway, DeChambeau was seen shaking his head in disbelief at what had happened. DeChambeau again hit into the water to fully drop out of contention, before McIlroy lost his grip on the lead - with Justin Rose continuing to surge and go into the clubhouse with a share of the lead at 11 under. A birdie on 17 after the shot of his life put McIlroy at 12 under, knowing all he had to do on 18 was hit a par - and he'd become Masters champion.
McIlroy bogeyed, leading to a playoff hole against Rose. After the Englishman sent his approach shot onto the green, McIlroy knew he had to better his Ryder Cup teammate in order to finally complete the Grand Slam. He watched on as Rose was made to settle for par, before he stepped over a short tap-in putt to win the Masters.
He did so, and immediately burst into tears..
