As the dust settles on my Sunday evening and I’m sitting here preparing myself for another week of work, I can’t help but to think how amazing sports are. There is truly nothing like the rollercoaster of emotions that’s sports can take you on. Experiencing the absolute high of highs and the agony of the lowest of lows is something that is so addicting and will never get old to me. I went through all of those emotions and then some on Sunday while watching the final round of The Masters.
Everyone who knows me knows that I am a Tiger guy through and through. In my opinion, there has never been a better golfer to play the game. At a young age Rory McIlroy was unfairly labeled the next Tiger Woods. He was a phenom and hit the ground running immediately. Most young superstars in their respective sports wilt under that kind of pressure and never truly reach their full potential.
Rory was different.
Over his hall of fame career he has amassed 29 career wins and up until Sunday he had won four majors. The only one missing for him to complete the career grand slam and join the elite club of golfers to accomplish such feat (Gene Sarazen, Ben Hogan, Gary Player, Jack Nicklaus, Tiger Woods) was The Masters.
Rory had been so close in the past to winning The Masters. In 2011 he had a 4-stroke lead going into the final round, but a disastrous final day ended his hopes of winning. In 2014 he finished top-10, but he could never catch Bubba Watson. In 2015 he finished in 4th, but he could never catch Jordan Spieth. In 2016 and 2018 McIlroy found himself in the final pairing on Sunday, but could not get the job done. In 2022 he made a hell of a run on the final day, but a 10-shot deficit going into the final day was just too much to catch Scottie Scheffler.
Photo Credit: The New York Times
Fast forward to this year’s Masters tournament. McIlroy enters Sunday in the final pairing with Bryson DeChambeau. He gets off to a hot start, but things started to go off of the rails a bit at times. If you have been watching golf for a while I’m sure you were like me and thinking, “Here we go again.” It just felt like Rory was going to implode at any moment and blow another golden opportunity.
There were countless chances on Sunday for Rory to come up short once again. The shot into the creek on 13. The missed eagle opportunity on 15. Speaking of 15, how incredible was this shot?
Despite all of that, Rory took a one shot lead into the 18th and had a 5 foot putt to win the tournament and…..he MISSED.
Unbelievable.
Rory let a four-shot lead slip away on the back 9 and The Masters would come down to a playoff for the first time since 2017 with Justin Rose.
Despite all of the failures and mistakes along the way, superstars always find a way. Rory found a way on Sunday, defeating Justin Rose in the playoff to win his first ever green jacket and complete the career grand slam.
What an absolute rollercoaster. How can you not be romantic about sports?
I am so insanely happy for Rory. He has been a great golfer for a long time and a great ambassador to the game and the PGA. He is one of the few golfers who spoke out against the LIV tour. He could have taken the huge pay day and rode off into the sunset, but I think he understands that his legacy was on the line and I personally always appreciated him for that.
Whether you like Rory McIlroy or not, you cannot deny his greatness. He now joins an elite list of golfers and will forever have his name engraved in history.
Ohio Sports Radio 
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