Rory McIlroy 'Started to Wonder' If He'd Ever Win Masters Before 2025 Victory

Rory McIlory revealed that he wasn't sure if he'd ever be able to secure a Masters victory prior to winning the first green jacket of his career on Sunday.

"It feels incredible," McIlroy said in an interview on CBS after winning the tournament. "This is my 17th time here, and I started to wonder if it would ever be my time."

The 35-year-old defeated Justin Rose in a one-hole playoff at Augusta National Golf Club, completing a career grand slam to go along with his first Masters win.

McIlroy secured a career grand slam in his 11th attempt, the most among the six golfers to accomplish the feat (h/t ESPN's Mark Schlabach). He joined Gene Sarazen, Ben Hogan, Gary Player, Jack Nicklaus and Tiger Woods.

Woods was the last golfer to record a career grand slam, doing so in 2000.

"I would say it was 14 years in the making, from going out with a four-shot lead in 2011, feeling like I could have gotten it done there," McIlroy said, via Schlabach. "Yeah, there was a lot of pent-up emotion that just came out on that 18th green. A moment like that makes all the years and all the close calls worth it."

McIlroy's journey to his first Masters win was far from easy, especially after he shot a disappointing 72 in Thursday's first round. He eventually responded by carding a six-under 66 in Round 2 as well as Round 3, jumping out to a two-shot lead entering Sunday.

While McIlroy recorded six birdies in the fourth round, he also racked up a pair of double bogeys that prevented him from extending his advantage over the rest of the field.

He had a chance to clinch a win on hole No. 18, but his approach shot from the fairway landed in the bunker. His par putt eventually slid just past the hole, resulting in a tie with Rose.

After Rose recorded even par on the playoff hole, McIlroy sunk a birdie putt to emerge victorious.

While the Northern Irishman may have experienced some doubts regarding a Masters win, his long wait to put on a green jacket finally came to an end.