17 takeaways from Rory McIlroy's tearful Masters news conference

Rory McIlroy realised a lifetime's ambition by completing the career grand slam at the 2025 Masters Tournament. 

The emotion came tumbling out of McIlroy as he knocked in a three-foot putt to defeat Justin Rose in a playoff at Augusta late on Sunday evening. 

McIlroy let out a huge roar before collapsing to the ground and let the tears flow.

Then, he embraced his caddie Harry Diamond before walking to the side of the green to kiss his wife Erica and hug daughter Poppy. 

Shortly after McIlroy was presented with the green jacket by Scottie Scheffler, he spoke to members of the media about just how difficult it has been to finally win another major.

Here are 17 takeaways from McIlroy's news conference...

He began the press conference with a question to himself

"What are we all going to talk about next year?" he joked.

Tiger Woods is his inspiration

"Watching Tiger here in 1997 do what he did [winning by 12 strokes], and then winning his first green jacket, I think that inspired so many of my generation to want to emulate what he did," McIlroy said.

He thought about Jon Rahm

Jon Rahm four-putted his opening hole at the 2023 Masters but the Spaniard went on to win. 

McIlroy got off to a dreadful start on Sunday by making a double bogey right out of the gate.

"It's funny, walking to the second tee, the first thing that popped into my head was Jon Rahm a couple years ago making double and going on to win," McIlroy said.  

"So at least my mind was in the right place, and was at least thinking positively about it."

Angel Cabrera left him a note in his locker

Disgraced Masters champion Angel Cabrera returned to Augusta National this week for the first time in six years.

Cabrera's inclusion at the 89th staging of The Masters was controversial to say the least given he served 30 months in prison for domestic abuse offences.

"I got to my locker this morning and I opened it up, and there was a note in there from Angel Cabrera, and just wishing me luck," McIlroy said.  

"And Angel Cabrera was the player I played with on the final day in 2011 [when he blew a four-shot lead]. 

"It was a nice touch and a little bit ironic at the same time. It's been 14 long years, but thankfully I got the job done."

He felt awful on the first tee

McIlroy said his stomach was in knots and he did not have an appetite all day. 

He said his legs 'felt like jelly'. 

His battle today was with himself

"It wasn't with anyone else," he said.  

"You know, at the end there, it was with Justin, but my battle today was with my mind and staying in the present.

"I'd like to say that I did a better job of it than I did. It was a struggle but I got it over the line."

He wasn't trying to take the flag on at the par-5 13th

McIlroy made a costly double bogey at the iconic par-5 13th. 

He opted to take a 3-wood off the tee and laid up short of the creek. 

Still, he managed to dump his wedge into the water from 82 yards. 

"It went into a little valley and it was on the upslope," he said.  

"And usually when I hit wedge shot off upslopes, they come out a little bit left on me. I gave myself like a couple of yards of room to the right. 

"I wasn't aiming at the creek, but it came out, you know, a little weak and a little right, and that was -- you know, to make a double there, when it's a birdie chance, and then seeing what Rosey was doing, and also what Ludvig was doing at the time, as well [wasn't good]. 

He was just relieved when he finally won

McIlroy let out an enormous roar when he rolled in a three-footer to end the playoff against Rose.

Was he letting out joy or just relief? Or both?

"It was all relief," he said. "There wasn't much joy in that reaction. It was all relief.

"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."

What he said to Justin Rose

"I congratulated him on a great week," McIlroy said.  

"I said 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."

What his caddie Harry Diamond told him as they headed back to the 18th tee for a playoff

McIlroy explained: "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."

The U.S. Open defeat was 'awful'

McIlroy came close to winning his fifth major title at the landmark 150th Open at St Andrews. 

Cameron Smith pipped him that day and he departed the home of golf weeping into the arms of his wife Erica.

But defeat at the U.S. Open last summer was worse, according to McIlroy.

"The U.S. Open last year was awful," he said. 

"But yeah, the losses are hard, and you know, again, [I am] just so proud of myself that I keep coming back and putting myself in positions to win these championships."

"I wish they didn't say it"

Golf legends Jack Nicklaus, Gary Player, Tom Watson and Tiger Woods have all gone on record since 2011 saying they believed McIlroy would finally win The Masters.

Their comments have only heaped pressure on McIlroy.

"You know, these are idols of mine," McIlroy said. 

"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. 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."

His best shot of the final round is not what you might think

McIlroy hit an otherworldly escape at the par-4 seventh after hitting his tee shot left into the trees. 

When he did so, he tipped his cap to on-course reporter Dottie Pepper. 

His approach to the 15th - which set up a short eagle opportunity - will undoubtedly become career-defining. 

But it was his second shot on the third hole that was the pick of the bunch, according to McIlroy. 

"That's not an easy second shot, bumping it up that hill," he said. 

"To judge that well and make a three there, when Bryson then made five, 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."

Harry Diamond has put up with 'a lot of crap' 

Whenever McIlroy has struggled to get over the line his long-time caddie Harry Diamond has come in for his fair share of criticism. 

McIlroy said he is 'a massive part of what I do'. 

"I've known Harry since I was seven years old," he 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, he added: "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."

He can't wait to see his mum and dad

"They are back in Northern Ireland," he said. "So maybe [I will take] a trip back home at some point next week."

He'll take the green jacket to Old Trafford

McIlroy is a huge Manchester United fan. 

He joked he would take it to the the Theatre of Dreams if it 'can inspire some better play'. 

It's not the best moment of his life

"It's up there," he said. "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."