1 week Ago By Ian Tuckey
RELIEVED Rory McIlroy ended his Masters jinx after pipping Justin Rose in a play-off - after threatening to copy his nightmare 2011 slump. McIlroy once again blew a four-shot final-day lead, this time to Rose and, briefly, Ludvig Aberg. 6 Rory McIlroy saw this brilliant second shot on the 17th set up a birdie but more drama was to follow as it went to sudden death Credit: Getty 6 Rose pushed McIlroy all the way Credit: Reuters A stunning 17th hole birdie then seemed sure to clinch his first Green Jacket - but he bogeyed the last when he ruined a superb bunker shot by missing a four-foot putt.
But McIlory then birdied the first extra hole to pip Rose. The Northern Irish hero was hoping to become only the sixth player to win all four majors - 11 years after he picked up the last two of his four Slam titles. McIlroy infamously blew a four-shot, last-day advantage at Augusta 14 years ago - misfiring so badly that he recorded an 80 and a finish of joint 15th.
READ MORE IN GOLF on the green Why does the Masters winner wear a green jacket at Augusta? And he appeared to be coasting on Sunday night - until a double bogey at the 13th just as Rose was picking up a 16th-hole birdie. McIlroy blew a fine approach shot by somehow sending his next into the water. He then missed a putt he'd expect to down nine times out of then - and suddenly it meant he'd carded a costly seven.
His bogey at the next hole put Rose in top before the Englishman bogeyed the 17th - leaving Ludvig Aberg level with the pair on 10-under. But after looking as if he was tightening up, McIlroy conjured one of the drives of the day to set up an eagle bid. Most read in Golf MASTERS 2025 McIlroy moves FOUR shots clear as icon closes in on first-ever Green Jacket EUR A KEEPER Who is Masters star Ludvig Aberg’s girlfriend Olivia Peet? ROR POWER Rory McIlroy makes Masters history to get one arm in his elusive Green Jacket DALY BREAD John Daly rakes in £600k at Augusta despite not playing.
.. thanks to Hooters He blew that highly gettable putt - but still went back on top with a birdie.
However, Rose responded with a brilliant birdie putt on the 18th to complete his 66 and close level on 11-under. With Aberg dropping to nine-under, it left McIlroy with two holes in which to find a birdie to nick victory. He did just that - but incredibly it wasn't enough.
6 Justin Rose might have felt he was down and out when he missed this eagle bid on the 13th hole Credit: AP 6 Rory McIlroy showed the strain after seeing his big lead evaporate Credit: Getty 6 Rose was four shots behind until a late turnaround Credit: EPA 6 Ludvig Aberg sneaked up the board into contention Credit: EPA.
