Gene Sarazen, Ben Hogan, Gary Player, Jack Nicklaus, Tiger Woods. Before Sunday, those were the names of the only five players in the history of golf to achieve a Career Grand Slam – win all four major championships. After over a decade of attempts, Rory McIlroy became the sixth golfer to join that exclusive club by winning his first Green Jacket at the 2025 Masters.

Coming into this week, McIlroy was as prepared as ever. He’s had a storybook start to the season, winning a signature event at the iconic Pebble Peach Golf Links, followed by his second Players Championship at TPC Sawgrass just a month and a half later. Still, of course, questions remained about whether the Northern Irishman could perform when it mattered at Augusta National. 

McIlroy got off to a blazing start during the first round, navigating Augusta National smoothly to four-under-par through 14 holes. In the blink of an eye, things turned for the worst. After hitting his second shot over the back edge at the par-5 15th, McIlroy’s third was too aggressive and his ball tumbled all the way off the front edge of the green and into the water. The mistake resulted in a costly double bogey. Two holes later, he made another sloppy double bogey, and a promising round turned into a measly even-par 72.

McIlroy responded early on Friday morning, playing a flawless round of golf and carding a 6-under 66 before the conditions got a bit tougher for the afternoon groups. Englishman Justin Rose held the 36-hole lead at -8, while big-hitting Bryson DeChambeau sat in second at -7. 

On Saturday McIlroy looked unstoppable. He became the first player in Masters history to make six 3’s in a row to start his round, opening up a big lead over Rose and Dechambeau. A late charge by Dechambeau cut McIlroy’s lead to two. Nonetheless, McIlroy had control of the tournament through 54 holes. Rose struggled to a 75 in the third round, putting him seven shots back with 18 holes to go.

Sunday’s round can only be described by one word – rollercoaster. McIlroy came out of the gate and made another sloppy double bogey on the first hole, followed by a par at the par-5 2nd. In just two holes, McIlroy’s two-shot lead became a one-shot deficit. However, McIlroy settled in and made two straight birdies on Nos. 3 and 4 to regain the lead while DeChambeau struggled. McIlroy settled in nicely the rest of the front nine and into the first few holes of the back nine, moving all the way to 13-under-par and at one point holding a five-shot lead.

On the par-5 13th, the roller-coaster ride resumed. McIlroy mishit an 80-yard pitch that fell into the creek, resulting in a double bogey. Meanwhile, a few holes ahead, Rose was putting together a historic round. A birdie on the par-3 16th had given Rose the solo lead at 11-under-par. McIlroy responded with one of the best shots ever hit at the par-5 15th, a swooping draw 7-iron around the trees to within 6 feet to set up a short eagle putt. He’d two-putt for birdie.

On the 72nd hole, McIlroy held a one-shot lead at 12-under-par over Rose. A par would award him his first Masters victory. After a perfect drive, McIlroy hit an errant approach into the greenside bunker and was unable to save par, setting up a playoff between two European legends in McIlroy and Rose.

Each player found the fairway off the tee, though McIlroy was approximately 25 yards closer to the hole. Rose’s approach was superb, coming to rest about 15 feet from the hole. McIlroy’s was better – he used the slope perfectly to funnel the ball back to within four feet. A narrow Rose miss set up another short putt to win for McIlroy and, this time, he converted.

McIlroy’s major championship drought is over. The historic win capped one of the wildest final rounds at the Masters in the tournament’s profound history.

Winner's Bag | Rory McIlroy

TaylorMade staffer Rory McIlroy saw his dreams come true at the 89th playing of The Masters Tournament, where he had to defy the odds time and time again to come out a champion. From an equipment perspective, McIlroy stuck with what worked at both Pebble Beach and TPC Sawgrass earlier this year.

All WITB information is courtesy of GolfWRX.

Driver: TaylorMade Qi10 (9 degrees @8.25)

Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Black 6 X (45 inches) 

McIlroy is one of the best drivers of the ball in the history of the sport. He used his lethal combination of length and accuracy to overpower Augusta National. Of note, McIlroy hit a 371-yard drive down the middle to open his third round, more than 50 yards longer than any player in the field that day. On the playoff hole, McIlroy hit a perfect fade with driver that setup the winning approach and putt.

Fairway Woods: TaylorMade Qi10 (15 degrees, 18 degrees)

Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Black 8 X

For McIlroy, the fairway woods serve as an extension of his driver setup, so it makes sense that he elected to use them off the tee often at Augusta National. His tee shot on the 10th hole on Sunday may have brought up some demons for the viewer, remembering his snap hook into the trees on 10 that derailed his best chance at a Green Jacket yet. But on Sunday, McIlroy perfectly drew the ball down the middle of the fairway that helped set up a key birdie at the time.

Irons: TaylorMade P760 (4), TaylorMade Rors Proto (5-9)

Shaft: Project X 7.0 (4-9)

McIlroy’s approach play was the difference this week at Augusta National. According to DataGolf, he gained an average of 2.3 strokes per round just on approach shots. Most notably, McIlroy hit two iconic mid-iron approaches on the par-5 15th hole that both set up short eagle putts. 

Wedges: TaylorMade MG4 (46-09SB, 50-09SB, 54-11SB, 60-08LB)

Shafts: Project X 6.5 (46-54), Project X 6.5 Wedge (60)

It was also a superb week for McIlroy with his wedges. He gained 0.77 shots per day around the greens according to DataGolf. But perhaps the shot of the tournament was the 125-yard approach in the playoff that he hit with a TaylorMade Milled Grind 4 wedge to just a few feet, allowing him to convert the winning birdie.

Putter: TaylorMade Spider Tour X

Grip: SuperStroke Zenergy Pistol Tour

Many have argued the reason McIlroy hasn’t won more majors to this point is because of his putting, specifically in high pressure moments coming down the wire. While there were moments this week and on Sunday where it felt that narrative may ring true, McIlroy made the putts he absolutely needed to in order to win with his TaylorMade Spider Tour X.