Rory McIlroy was congratulated by Tiger Woods after securing his first Masters victory and completing the Grand Slam.
Rory McIlroy won the Masters at Augusta last month (Image: Getty Images)
Tiger Woods delivered a succinct, yet profound, congratulations to Rory McIlroy upon his historic Masters victory which saw him join the elite ranks of Grand Slam winners in golf. After an 11-year wait for another major title, McIlroy finally clinched the elusive Masters at Augusta National, a moment that moved him to tears as he triumphed over Justin Rose in a play-off.
The win prompted a touching exchange with his young daughter Poppy and led to heartfelt praise from Woods himself. Recounting the experience on ‘The Tonight Show’ with Jimmy Fallon, McIlroy shared Woods’ words: “He said, ‘Welcome to the club, kid.'”. Overwhelmed by his achievement, McIlroy reflected: “Six people ever have achieved the Grand Slam in golf. Only four of us are living. You know, Gary Player is 90 years old, Jack (Nicklaus) is 85 or 86, then there’s Tiger and myself. It’s really cool to be a part of.”
This year has been a remarkable year for McIlroy, peaking with his first Masters triumph on April 13, propelling him towards potentially his most triumphant season yet. His victory against Justin Rose concluded an 11-year pursuit of another major, fulfilling a childhood dream and earning him the prestigious green jacket.
McIlroy couldn’t help but be touched by the wave of affection and support that followed. Reflecting on his experiences, McIlroy opened up about his feelings post-Masters while speaking to the media.
“It’s been an amazing few days, to be able to reflect on everything that happened and the magnitude of everything,” he shared with those gathered at TPC Louisiana.
“I think the big thing for me is just how the whole journey sort of resonated with people and the people that have reached out to me. That’s been absolutely amazing. It’s not every day you get to fulfil one of your lifelong goals and dreams. I’ve just really tried to enjoy everything that comes along with that.
“I spoke to two presidents the day after, which was pretty cool. Just people reaching out from all walks of life, whether it be sports, entertainment, culture. Just all of it. People you would never even think would watch golf or would know what’s going on; that was very, very humbling.”
Rory McIlroy joined Jimmy Fallon on The Tonight Show (Image: 2025 NBCUniversal Media, LLC)
“I think people can see themselves in the struggle at times, and everything that you sort of try to put into getting the best out of yourself in that journey. Watching someone finally get it done, something they’ve been trying to do for a decade plus, I think it resonated.”
McIlroy’s achievement of becoming the first European to complete a golfing Grand Slam, following previous victories at the US Open, the PGA Championship and the Open Championship, is just one highlight of 2025. In addition to securing the Masters, he has also won two other events this year.
His winning streak began in February with a victory at the ATandT Pebble Beach Pro-Am, setting the stage for further success when he triumphed at the Players Championship at Sawgrass in March.
McIlroy has proven to be a formidable competitor in nearly every tournament this year, finishing tied-fifth at the Texas Children’s Houston Open before heading to the Masters, and making the cut at both the Genesis Invitational and Arnold Palmer Invitational.
Despite his Boston Common Golf Club not progressing to the playoffs during the TGL’s inaugural season, McIlroy’s role as a co-founder of the tech-driven league, alongside Tiger Woods, has brought him success as a partner. The league is set to grow, with investors keen to launch new teams and build on the original six that competed this year.
McIlroy has amassed an impressive $13,257,558 in prize money from golf tournaments so far this year, and he’s set to challenge Scottie Scheffler for the world No. 1 spot. Regardless of the outcomes for the rest of the season, 2025 will undoubtedly be remembered as an unforgettable year for McIlroy.
