Rory's Redemption

Well it took far more years than almost everyone predicted, but Rory McIlroy finally joined golfing greats in becoming only the 6th player in history to complete the sports ‘Grand-Slam’ (for the uninitiated, golf ‘Grand-Slam’ involves winning all 4 global major tournaments – The Open, The US Open, The Masters and The PGA Championship).  Seems reasonably easy, right?

However, the fact that only 6 players have ever achieved this demonstrates just how significant a deal it really is (Tiger Woods, Gene Sarazen, Ben Hogan and Jack Nicklaus complete the set) and Rory finally getting there should not be underestimated.

The pressure on McIlroy to enter the rarefied air of ‘Grand-Slammers’ had been relentless since his last major win at the PGA in 2014 (he also won the Open that year) and it seemed only a matter of time before he completed the set and joined golfing royalty – but Rory being Rory, things didn’t go to plan.

Having failed to win the Masters for a couple of years after his 2014 win, people began to whisper that maybe the pressure was just too much – year after year there were spectacular failures when well ahead and missed-cuts seemed to confirm the public’s suspicion that he would never achieve golf’s holy-grail, and so it went on.

Every single year as the golfing circus arrived at Augusta National (the only major venue which does not change), the question media from around the world asked most frequently was, ‘can Rory do it this year’ and the answer, for 11 frustrating years was, ‘no’.

But 2025 was to be his year and one of the most exciting Masters tournaments in history delivered his redemption and coveted Green-Jacket with the most anticipated win in history – what a Sunday it was!

McIlroy saw off his nearest challenger, America’s Bryson DeChambeau, with ease early in his final round but fellow Brit Justin Rose played a fantastic  round and when Rory missed a 6-foot put for the title on his final hole, pushing him into a play-off with Rose, we once again began to wonder if this golfing genius was going to miss-out gain.

But Rory held his nerve with a birdie on their first play-off hole and a 4-foot put sealed the deal – McIlroy sank to his knees and tears began to flow, you could actually see 11 years of pain, frustration and anger leave his body as he became the golfing legend he was always destined to be!

IN OTHER SPORTING NEWS:

Ref Watch – Still no resignation from the incompetent Howard Webb – why?

Tamworth Watch – A top-half finish is just about secured.  What a fantastic first season back in the National League for the Lambs – Congratulations to everyone involved.

Image Credits: TourProGolfClubs via commons.wikimedia.org / kenny via pixabay.com