Rory McILroy finally won the Masters of Augusta. North Irish has completed its collection of adults after a decade of disillusions.
ats
After the US Open (2012), the PGA Championship (2012 and 2014) and the British Open (2014), all won over ten years ago, Rory McILroy ended up conquering the prestigious Masters at 35, joining Gene Sarazen, Ben Hogan, Gary Player, Jack Nicklaus and Tiger Woods, all authors of the “Grand Chelem” in men.
After a play-off hole against the Englishman Justin Rose, a putt for Birdie offered the tournament at the world No. 2 which knelt on the Green, concluding a day of intense pressure. “It is an incredible feeling. I was playing for the 17th time here, I was starting to wonder if my time was going to come, ”said McILroy.
When he got on his knees, McILroy saw “a lot of emotions repressed on this hole no 18”. “It is this kind of moment that is well worth all the missed occasions,” he added before referring to his advance of four strokes harvested in 2011, he who has indeed multiplied the sometimes heartbreaking places of honor, as last year at the US Open.
Ghosts of the curse
The ghosts of the curse that seemed to have struck McILroy on the big tournaments appeared more frosty than ever on Sunday, while the world No. 2 seemed to be allowed to escape a title that reached out to him.
McILroy had attacked the day with two strokes ahead of the American Bryson Dechambeau, his part partner who quickly collapsed (5th final), and seven blows ahead of Rose, who seemed a distant threat in 6th position.
From the outset, McILroy was disillusioned with a double bogey that relaunched the tournament. The North Irlandais then behaved very well and counted four blows ahead after hole No. 10 (Birdies at 3, 4, 9 and 10).
But the arm again trembled at No. 13, finished with another double Bogey, before a Bogey at 14, which gave it temporarily behind Rose, preceding a legendary end of the tournament, under the eyes of an audience in delirium.
A splendid iron stroke at No. 15 gave him an opportunity, failed, from Eagle (Birdie finally), when Rose was missing to leave her head.
A breathtaking finish
A new putt barely missed at n.16 condemned him to s. After Rose had a last Birdie in No 18, McILroy attacked the last two holes tied with English, her destiny in hand. A magnificent new iron stroke allowed him to succeed in the Birdie at No. 17, taking a step ahead.
After an outing of Bunker, the darling of the public offered an opportunity for a title on a 1.5 m putt, missed on the left, forcing him to chain on the play-off again on hole no 18. Where Rose was forced to by, McILroy succeeded in a remarkable approach to win on a final birdie.
Aged 44, Rose, winner of the US Open in 2013, finished him for the 3rd time in 2nd place du Masters, which he never won. Golf ghosts may have changed their shoulder.
