1 week Ago By [email protected] (Harry Brent)
On a sun-dappled Sunday at Augusta National, Rory McIlroy etched his name into golfing immortality. After years of near-misses and heartache, the Holywood hero finally clinched the Masters , defeating Justin Rose in a gripping playoff to claim the coveted green jacket. His victory completed the career Grand Slam - joining the US Open, PGA Championship, and Open Championship in his trophy cabinet - cementing his status as one of golf's all-time greats.
The win was a testament to resilience, as McIlroy navigated a rollercoaster final round, his emotions spilling over in tears of joy as he embraced wife Erica Stoll and daughter Poppy after sinking the winning putt. For the 35-year-old Northern Irishman, it was the crowning moment of a career defined by brilliance and perseverance. The triumph bagged him a record-breaking €3.
94million ($4.2m) from an €18.4 ($21m) purse, the largest ever at the Masters.
However, McIlroy won't be pocketing the full sum. As a Florida resident, he faced a stinging 42.39 per cent tax bill, with US federal and state taxes swallowing nearly €1.
5 ($1.8m), leaving him with roughly €2.1m ($2.
4m) of the pot. Tax expert Paul Barham explained: "Any prize money earned at Augusta is subject to US federal tax at 37 per cent, plus state levies. For McIlroy, that's a significant chunk.
" That said, even with the taxman's cut, the payout adds a tidy sum to an already colossal fortune. In 2023, the Sunday Times Rich List estimated McIlroy's net worth to be a staggering €260m (£225m) - a figure that has likely climbed higher in the two years since. His Masters win pushes his career prize money past €140m ($160m), making him only the second golfer, after Tiger Woods, to surpass $100m on the PGA Tour alone.
But prize money is just part of the story. Lucrative endorsements with brands like Nike, Omega, and TaylorMade have turbocharged his wealth, alongside savvy investments in a global property empire, including a €19.3 ($22m) Jupiter mansion, and a fleet of supercars.
Reflecting on his victory, McIlroy's words carried the weight of a man who'd conquered his demons. "This place has haunted me for so long, but today it feels like home," he said as his voice cracked during the green jacket ceremony. "To my family, to Poppy, I'd say: never give up on your dreams.
Keep coming back, keep working hard." He added: "Erica and Poppy have been my rock. They know the burden I've carried coming here every year, trying again.
" In typical McIlroy fashion, his Masters triumph was a mix of dazzling brilliance and nerve-jangling missteps. He started like a man possessed, carding six consecutive threes on Saturday - a historic feat at Augusta - that propelled him to a two-shot lead entering the final round. But Sunday brought drama - exactly what he didn't need after last year's US Open collapse.
Two double bogeys threatened to derail him, and a missed five-foot par putt on the 18th forced a playoff with Rose. "I thought it was slipping away again," he admitted afterwards. But in the playoff, a steely birdie on the first hole sealed it, with Rose only managing par.
"I just kept telling myself to trust my game," McIlroy said. "That birdie felt like fate." Once the ball sank, McIlroy did the same.
A blubbering wreck, he fell to his knees and sobbed into the turf as a decade-and-a-half of Augusta heartache was forgotten. "There was a lot of pent up emotion that just came out on the 18th green. But a moment like that makes all of the years and close calls worth it," he said.
Despite the tax hit, McIlroy's focus wasn't on the money. "It's never been about that," he told reporters, echoing sentiments from 2019 when he said: "I play for the prestige, for moments like this". Still, the €2.
4m take-home is a nice bonus - even for a man with a fortune over 100 times the size. As he stood on Augusta's hallowed ground, green jacket draped over his shoulders, McIlroy's victory was a reminder: dreams pay dividends, even after the taxman calls..
