Rory McIlroy's Masters heroics should act as an inspiration for every tortured soul who is starting to doubt themselves

The human brain is a fragile organ. It was not designed to withstand the pressure that Rory McIlroy's felt on Sunday at Augusta National. McIlroy's Masters victory and career Grand Slam should be celebrated by our entire species – it was a triumph not just for Rory, but for humanity.

McIlroy has since admitted he was overwhelmed by nerves on the morning of the final round. Inevitably. That tension was understandably unbearable on the opening hole, a tight swing meaning he could not carry the fairway bunker with his drive. It was the same result at the second – pressure, nerves, tightness – like swinging in a straitjacket.

A six at the first was followed by a five at the second. The lead was lost. How does he recover from that?

With the courage of a lion – birdies at three, four, nine and ten – a remarkable Rory roar and suddenly the Green Jacket was his to lose again.

With all due respect, forget Gene Sarazen. When he won the Masters in 1935 to complete what was later to be described as a Grand Slam, he was a carefree 33-year-old who had no idea the tournament would become so significant. That was just the second ever Masters – an event in its infancy, lacking status.

There were about 20 spectators around the 15th green when Sarazen made an albatross in the final round. It was a relaxed affair. Sarazen won a 36-hole Monday playoff, pocketed $1,500, then toddled off in his plus fours for a quiet cigar.

Fast forward 90 years and the contrast is stark. The Masters is immense. Only one player had completed a Grand Slam in the last 59 years. When Tiger Woods did it at St Andrews in 2000, he was a 24-year-old winning everything at the time – an irresistible phenomenon. The Slam was clearly coming sooner rather than later. For McIlroy, who has become the only other to achieve a Slam in the modern era, it was so different.

This was his 17th attempt at winning the Masters. This was the 11th time he had teed up at the Cathedral of Pines praying that he could complete the Slam. It was almost 11 years since he had last won a Major. He had thrown away a four-shot Sunday lead at Augusta in 2011. He was in the final twoball in 2018 to watch Patrick Reed claim the Green Jacket. Near-misses, battle scars, mental baggage – that was McIlroy's Masters history until Sunday.

Technically, his game had been in mint condition this year – all departments better than ever. The 2025 Masters was a mental examination – wounded 35-year-old grey matter filled with a literally mindboggling combination of desire and doubt. This was an annual date with destiny which had always ended in disappointment.

The third shot at the 13th hole on Sunday appeared to be the moment that McIlroy's miserable Masters history came back to haunt him. From just 86 yards, he missed his target about 20 yards right – an inexplicable error which left his ball in Rae's Creek. A double-bogey seven was followed by a bogey at 14. The lead was lost. How does he recover from that?

Well, by following possibly the worst shot he has ever hit at Augusta (the third at 13) with one of his best – the second at the 15th was of such jaw-dropping quality that it left this particular long-in-the-tooth golf fan gasping for breath in astonishment and awe. The poise, the power, the draw round the trees, over the water to the perfect landing spot – under those circumstances – was frankly ridiculous. It was a shot of a golfing genius. On the same hole where Sarazen (forget Sarazen!) salvaged his Masters Sunday in 1935, McIlroy produced a golf shot for the ages.

Had the eagle putt dropped, we would probably have witnessed a gallop across the finishing line. But there was too much at stake for this to ever be straightforward. Even after another magnificent shot – the eight-iron to 17 – meant a tap-in birdie and a one-shot lead going up the last, a pushed approach to 18 caused a closing bogey. This was a trademark Rory rollercoaster ride – he needed a fourth bite of this prized cherry in a playoff if he was to join the most exclusive club in sport.

How would McIlroy have recovered if he lost the playoff? How could he move on with his golfing career and the Slam quest if his friend Justin Rose had been the ultimate party pooper?

These thoughts must have been sloshing around Rory's head when he teed up in the playoff, making his three shots which followed an absolutely stunning display of sporting class. It was perfection. The demons which had tormented McIlroy for the best part of two decades at Augusta were finally strangled to death with a lusty 314-yard drive down the middle, a precise 126-yard approach, and a four-foot putt. Any caps not being doffed were being worn by criminals.

Passing this most gruelling of mental assignments should do wonders for McIlroy going forward. The straitjacket is off, the weight has lifted from his shoulders, he has finally fulfilled his potential. A head filled with happiness. Rory should be the proudest human on the planet – an inspiration to brain-bearers the world over.

Read more on Rory McIlroy's Masters victory:

Rory McIlroy 5-1 to win US PGA and 80-1 for calendar Slam as thrilling Masters triumph costs the bookies dear 

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