In his words: McIlroy completes golf's career Grand Slam, part 2

Eleven years later, Rory McIlroy won his fifth major championship, prevailing at Augusta National in a playoff over Justin Rose after a "roller coaster of a" Sunday final round in which, to golf fans, it felt like he won and lost the tournament several times over.

Sunday's post-round press conference with McIlroy, continued: 

Question: "Can you describe the internal feeling of joy and relief when you hit your knees on the 18th hole when it was over in the playoff?"

"It was all relief," McIlroy said. "There wasn't much joy in that reaction. It was all relief. (Laughter).

"And then, you know, the joy came pretty soon after that. But that was - I've been coming here 17 years, and it was a decade-plus of emotion that came out of me there."

Question: "What did you say to Justin and vice versa?"

"I just - I congratulated him on a great week," McIlroy said. "I said, we - it's ironic how these things happen. We were invited to a dinner by a few members of the club on Tuesday night, and we were the only two players at that table, and we are the ones that end up being in the playoff. It's funny how these things work.

"But he's a great champion. He has displayed so much grace throughout his career. You know, selfishly, I was happy that it was another Euro in the playoff. We're on a good run at the minute. We're Ryder Cup year and all that.

"But yeah, you know, Justin is a great champion. And I remember watching the playoff in '17 when he went up against Sergio, and that didn't quite go his way, either. But he's had a phenomenal record around here, and I feel for him a little bit because he's been so close.

"Yeah, he's a good friend, and yeah, hopefully he has a few more opportunities."

Question: "Quick detail. What's the size of your jacket?"

"I think it's a 38 regular," McIlroy said.

Question: "How did you regroup after missing the putt on 18?"

"After scoring, Harry and I were walking to the golf cart to bring us back to the 18th tee, and he said to me, 'Well, pal, we would have taken this on Monday morning.'

"I'm like, 'Yeah, absolutely we would have.' 

"That was an easy reset. He basically said to me, look, you would have given your right arm to be in a playoff at the start of the week. So that sort of reframed it a little bit for me.

"Yeah, again, I just kept telling myself, just make the same swing you made in regulation. And I hit a great drive up there, and yeah, the rest is history."

Question "And what would you say has been the low point during this drought?"

"There's been a few," McIlroy said. "It's hard because, like, I've played so much good golf. It's hard to call the second-place finishes and the - St Andrews was a tough one to take because you only get a few opportunities there, you know, during the course of your career.

"The U.S. Open last year was awful. But yeah, the losses are hard, and you know, again, just so proud of myself that I keep coming back and putting myself in positions to win these championships.

Question: "You made 30 3s this week."

"Is that good?" McIlroy asked.

Question: "Yeah, that's good. And there were a couple of other numbers in there, too."

"A couple of 7s," McIlroy said.

Question: "How did you navigate the second nine? Was there a lot of positive talk? How did you just get through the up and down of the second nine?"

"So when I birdied 10 and bogeyed 11, which was fine, and made a good 3 on 12, hit it where you're supposed to hit it, 2-putt and move on.

"Walking to the 13th tee, I was thinking, I can play the next three holes in 4, 4, 4. "That's what I was thinking. Didn't quite materialize that way. But I was really just trying to break it down into threes. I felt like I played 10, 11, 12 well. I was trying to play 13, 14, 15 well. Didn't quite materialize. I played 16 and 17 well. Didn't feel like I played the 18th badly, and had a chance to win in regulation.

"But yeah, I just basically broke it down into three-hole stretches."

Question: "Earlier this week you were asked about Jack and Gary Player and Tom Watson all picking you and rooting for you, and you deftly deflected the question. I wonder now if you can speak to the burden that comes with history, the burden that comes with fellow greats or guys you want to count yourself amongst. What does that feel like?"

"It's tough. You know, you've had Jack, Gary, Tom, Tiger, you name it, come through here, and all say that I'll win the Masters one day. That's a hard load to carry, especially - it is. It really is," McIlroy said. 

"You know, these are idols of mine, and it's - look, it's very flattering that they all come up here and they believe in me and they believe in my abilities to be able to win this tournament and, you know, achieve the Grand Slam and all that.

"But it doesn't help, you know. (Laughter) I wish they didn't say it.

"But, you know, I think as well, as the years have went on, I've just become more accustomed to the noise that sort of surrounds my whole Masters week and I've become a little more comfortable with it."

Question: "Curious what you think the best shot you hit today was, and why you feel that way?"

"The best shot I hit today was - it could be the second on 7, but I think the most - one of the most important ones for me was the second shot on 3," McIlroy said. "You know, I started 6, 5. Hit a good tee shot on 3. That's not an easy second shot, bumping it up that hill. To judge that well and make a 3 there, when Bryson then made 5, and then to go ahead and birdie the next hole, as well, I thought that was - you know, it was very early in the round, but it was a huge moment."

Question: "You and Harry grew up together in a tiny town playing childhood games together. What does it feel like to have him standing beside you today when you achieved that childhood dream?

"Eamonn. Yeah, I've known Harry since I was seven years old," McIlroy said. "I met him on the putting green at Holywood Golf Club. We've had so many good times together. He's been like a big brother to me the whole way through my life (tearing up).

"To be able to share this with him after all the close calls that we've had, all the crap that he's had to take from people that don't know anything about the game, yeah, this one is just as much his as it is mine.

"He's a massive part of what I do, and I couldn't think of anyone better to share it with than him."

Question: "Congratulations. I wonder if you can talk us through your plans for tonight and the next few days. I can't imagine you'll be finishing that John Grisham anytime soon."

"I don't know," McIlroy said. "I'll stay here tonight. I'll probably head home to Florida tomorrow. I'd really love to see my mum and dad. They are back in Northern Ireland. So maybe a trip back home at some point next week.

Question "Will you be taking the green jacket to Old Trafford?"

"If it can inspire some better play, absolutely," McIlroy said.

Question: "Where does this rank amongst the best days of your life, and how proud of yourself are you?"

"It's up there. I'm not going to compare it to life moments like a marriage or having a child.

"But it's the best day of my golfing life. And yeah, I'm very proud of myself. I'm proud of never giving up. I'm proud of how I kept coming back and dusting myself off and not letting the disappointments really get to me. Talking about that eternal optimist again. Yeah, very proud."

THE MODERATOR: Before we go, can you take us through the clubs?

"Sure. The birdie on 3, I talked about. It was a little chip bump-and-run up the hill with a lob-wedge.

"I hit a 5-iron on the fourth hole.

"The ninth hole, I hit like a three-quarter lob wedge in there.

"10, I hit 8-iron.

"15, I hit a 7-iron for my second shot approach, and then on 17, I hit an 8-iron."

THE MODERATOR: And in the playoff?

"And in the playoff, I hit a gap wedge, yeah," McIlroy said.

MODERATOR: "Well, Rory, thank you and congratulations."

"Thank you so much. Thank you," said McIlroy.

With his Masters victory, the fifth major championship of his career, McIlroy became the sixth golfer in the history of the game win the career grand slam (the Masters, U.S. Open, PGA Championship and the Open Championship), joining Tiger Woods, Jack Nicklaus, Gary Player, Ben Hogan and Gene Sarazen.