Tiger Woods has congratulated his close friend and business partner Rory McIlroy on his first Masters win, as the Northern Irishman overcame a late slip-up to complete golf’s Grand Slam.
McIlroy, who had not won a major since 2014, edged out Justin Rose in a painstaking playoff on Sunday, after missing a short putt on 18 which would have ended the tournament right there.
And Woods – who did not compete at the tournament – was thrilled for his TGL co-founder as he finally captured the biggest prize in golf.
‘Welcome to the club @McIlroyRory. Completing the grand slam at Augusta is something special,’ Woods began on X.
‘Your determination during this round, and this entire journey has shown through, and now you’re a part of history. Proud of you!’
With the highly dramatic win, McIlroy became just the sixth player to complete the Grand Slam in golf, joining Woods, Gene Sarazen, Ben Hogan, Gary Player and Jack Nicklaus.
Rory McIlroy finally captured the Green Jacket on Sunday as he kept his cool in a playoff
His good friend Tiger Woods congratulated him afterwards with a post to social media
Woods, a five-time Masters winner, did not compete at Augusta this year due to a ruptured Achilles.
The legendary Nicklaus, 85, revealed ahead of the tournament that he recently sat down for lunch with McIlroy, with the pair going over the latter’s strategy for this week at Augusta.
Nicklaus recalled in a press conference that he told McIlroy he ‘wouldn’t change a thing’ about his approach to the course – though there was one tweak he believed the 35-year-old needed to make.
‘The discipline to do that is – the discipline is what Rory has lacked in my opinion. He’s got all the shots. He’s got all the game. He certainly is as talented as anybody in the game,’ Nicklaus said.
‘But if you look, go back and see his history the last few years, he gets to a place a lot of times an 8 or a 7 pops up, and that keeps you from getting to where he needs to go. I’m a big fan of Rory’s and I like Rory a lot, so that’s what I think.
‘But I think obviously Scottie Scheffler is just coming back in again, he’s a defending champion, and there’s nobody playing any better in the game than Scottie. Between the two of them, I think you’re going to find your winner.’
A tearful Rory McIlroy embraced his wife Erica Stoll and daughter Poppy after Masters win
McIlroy was joined by his wife Erica and daughter Poppy at the Green Jacket ceremony
McIlroy certainly kept his discipline on a topsy-turvy Sunday that saw him blow a four-stroke lead, double bogey twice and fumble his first chance to win the tournament.
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His relief was evident as he emotionally celebrated with his wife, Erica Stoll, and their daughter, Poppy, after the win.
McIlroy went straight to his wife of eight years, pulling her into an embrace before kneeling down to hug Poppy.
The freshly-crowned five-time major winner later then paid tribute to his family during his Green Jacket ceremony.
‘Last but not least, over to my left, my family, my team,’ he said, trailing off as the tears threatened to spill again.
‘They’ve been on this journey with me the whole way through. They know the burden that I’ve carried to come here every year and try and try and try again,’ he continued after recomposing himself.
‘The one thing I would say to my daughter Poppy, never give up on your dreams. Never ever give up on your dreams. Keep coming back. Keep working hard.