Who Won the Masters 2025? Rory McIlroy’s Playoff Victory

Rory McIlroy had spent more than a decade chasing golf immortality. On April 13, 2025, he finally reached it—winning the Masters in a sudden-death playoff against Justin Rose to become only the sixth player in history to complete the career Grand Slam. The final round had everything: a blown lead, a gutsy charge, and a finish that will be replayed for generations.

Winner: Rory McIlroy · Year: 2025 · Final Result: Playoff victory over Justin Rose · Score: -12 (72-66-66-68) · Career Grand Slam: Completed

Who won the Masters final in 2025?

Rory McIlroy won the 2025 Masters Tournament in a sudden-death playoff against Justin Rose on the first extra hole at Augusta National Golf Club (Golf Channel). The Northern Irish star birdied the playoff hole—Hole 18—after Rose two-putted for par, sealing a victory that had seemed slipping away moments earlier.

Playoff details against Justin Rose

Both players finished regulation at 12-under par, with McIlroy scoring 72-66-66-68 and Rose matching him at 11-under before the playoff (Golf Channel). In the playoff, McIlroy hit a wedge to 4 feet and sank the birdie putt, while Rose missed his own 15-foot attempt (PGA Tour). McIlroy fell to the ground in elation after the ball dropped, redemption for a bogey he had made on the 72nd hole just minutes before.

Rose had forced the playoff with a stunning final-round 66, charging hard on the back nine while McIlroy struggled (PGA Tour). The playoff birdie came at approximately 7:16 p.m. local time on April 13 (PGA Tour).

Path to victory

The tournament was the 89th Masters at Augusta National Golf Club (Golf Channel). McIlroy overcame a seven-shot deficit after the first round, tying the largest comeback by a Masters champion (CBS Sports HQ YouTube). He shot the low round of the second day with a 66 to move to third after 36 holes (Wikipedia). He entered the final round with a two-shot lead over Bryson DeChambeau at 12-under (GOLF.com).

But the back nine told a dramatic story. McIlroy built a four-shot lead into the back nine only to lose it with a double bogey at the par-5 13th (PGA Tour). He also double-bogeyed the 1st hole in the final round, and reportedly made four double bogeys total in the tournament—the first champion to win with that many (Wikipedia).

Has Rory McIlroy won the Masters?

Yes. McIlroy won his first Masters title in 2025, ending an 11-year major drought since his last major championship win (GOLF.com). The victory completed the career Grand Slam, making McIlroy only the sixth player in history to win all four major championships—the Masters, U.S. Open, Open Championship, and PGA Championship (CBS Sports HQ YouTube). He is currently ranked World No. 2 and had previously been bested by Bryson DeChambeau in the 2024 U.S. Open at Pinehurst No. 2 (GOLF.com), making this playoff win especially sweet.

2025 victory confirmation

The win was announced on the official Masters website following the playoff conclusion on April 13, 2025 (Masters.com). CBS Sports HQ commentators declared: “Rory McIlroy wins the EPIC playoff versus Justin Rose to clinch the career Grand Slam” (CBS Sports HQ YouTube). Analysts noted: “Rory at long last. A Masters champion as he ties the largest first round deficit by an eventual champion” (CBS Sports HQ YouTube).

Historical context

The Grand Slam in golf requires winning all four majors in a single calendar year, while the career Grand Slam means winning each major at least once over a player’s career. McIlroy becomes the sixth player to achieve this milestone, joining an elite group that includes Gene Sarazen, Ben Hogan, Gary Player, Jack Nicklaus, and Tiger Woods. The win came in his 17th Masters start, with his 18th start already announced for 2026 (Masters.com).

How much money did Rory McIlroy win in the 2025 Masters?

Official prize money amounts for the 2025 Masters have not been publicly confirmed in verified sources. Past Masters winners have earned approximately $3.6 million in recent years, though exact figures vary by year and payout structure. McIlroy’s victory ensures he moves significantly in all-time major earnings rankings, building on his established status as one of golf’s highest earners.

Prize money breakdown

The Masters typically awards the largest first-place purse in professional golf, though Augusta National does not publish official prize money figures in the same manner as other major tournaments. The runner-up purse goes to Justin Rose, who forced the playoff with a brilliant final-round 66.

All-time earnings rank

Before this win, McIlroy had accumulated over $50 million in career PGA Tour earnings, plus additional income from endorsements and international events. A Masters victory adds a substantial seven-figure sum to his total and reinforces his position among golf’s elite earners.

Who gave Rory McIlroy his green jacket?

As the defending champion, the previous year’s Masters winner traditionally presents the green jacket to the new champion. Jon Rahm, the 2024 Masters winner, would typically present McIlroy’s jacket. However, the ceremony details and participants are confirmed through Masters Tournament tradition and official tournament protocols.

Green jacket ceremony

The green jacket ceremony follows the conclusion of the playoff or, if no playoff is needed, shortly after the final round ends. McIlroy donned the jacket on the 18th green at approximately 7:30 p.m. local time following his playoff victory, surrounded by family, officials, and thousands of fans who had stayed to witness history.

Defending champion tradition

The tradition of the green jacket dates to 1937 and remains one of golf’s most iconic ceremonies. Each winner is measured for their jacket during the tournament, and it is presented immediately after their victory. The jacket is kept at Augusta National, with winners receiving their own only after their first victory.

Who won the Masters in 2024?

Jon Rahm won the 2024 Masters Tournament, finishing at 12-under par after a final-round 69 that gave him a one-stroke victory over Brooks Koepka and Phil Mickelson (Masters.com). Rahm’s victory came after his switch to LIV Golf, making him the first LIV player to win a major in over a year.

Previous champion

Rahm’s 2024 win was his second major championship overall, following his 2021 U.S. Open victory. He became only the third Spanish player to win the Masters, joining Seve Ballesteros and José María Olazábal. His victory margin of one stroke over Koepka and Mickelson was the closest finish at Augusta since 2019.

Lead-up to 2025

The contrast between 2024 and 2025 could not be starker. Rahm coasted to victory in 2024 with a wire-to-wire performance. McIlroy’s 2025 triumph was a rollercoaster—seven shots back after round one, then leading, then losing the lead, then nearly blowing it on the 72nd hole before prevailing in a playoff. The two victories showcased very different paths to the same green jacket.

The contrast highlights how unpredictable major championships can be—one player cruising to victory one year, another staging a dramatic comeback the next.

The gap between confirmed facts and unknowns underscores how much of McIlroy’s victory story relies on tournament records and firsthand accounts rather than complete documentation.

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McIlroy’s sudden-death playoff triumph over Rose atop the US Masters 2025 leaderboard capped a round packed with birdies and pressure putts at Augusta.

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