Rory McIlroy accomplished a lifelong goal when he finally won the Masters on Sunday, and he summed up the experience with a perfect social media post after sleeping on it.
McIlroy beat Justin Rose in a sudden-death playoff to win the Masters at Augusta National Golf Club. By capturing the Green Jacket, McIlroy became just the sixth golfer in history to complete the career Grand Slam.
Many wondered if McIlroy would ever get over the hump at Augusta. Prior to Sunday, the 35-year-old had not won a major since 2014. McIlroy had a four-shot lead after 54 holes heading into the final round at the 2011 Masters and completely collapsed by shooting 80 in the final round.

McIlroy’s infamous meltdown is now a distant memory. On Monday, he shared a photo of himself holding up the Masters trophy with a simple four-word caption.
“Dreams do come true,” McIlroy wrote.
Dreams do come true. pic.twitter.com/6WiHrVIjNl
— Rory McIlroy (@McIlroyRory) April 14, 2025
When asked about his good friend winning the Masters, Shane Lowry told reporters that winning at Augusta National was “all (McIlroy) thinks about” and “all he talks about.” Lowry said McIlroy had told him that Rory “would retire a happy man if he won the Green Jacket.”
That gives you an idea of just how much completing the Grand Slam meant to McIlroy. That is also why his nerves were so evident during the final round, especially when he missed a short putt on the 18th hole that would have given him the win without needing a playoff. McIlroy kept it together and birdied the 18th in the first sudden-death playoff hole to beat Rose.
McIlroy’s message to the media after his win was proof that he has been listening closely to his critics. Now that he has fulfilled his lifelong dream, he can focus on simply adding to his already remarkable resume.