Putting a cap on the Masters

I’m lightheaded after that Rory McIlroy win/loss/win/loss/win at The Masters. I started on the couch at 2:15 p.m., moved to standing in the middle of the living room at 5:15, and finished sitting on the floor for the final 45 minutes.

Just an incredible swing of emotions for six hours.

I’m not sure sports fans are fully equipped for that type of drawn-out agony.

Here are some thoughts from The 2025 Masters.

McIlroy wins over some haters

I was with a group of 16 golfers this weekend down in Hilton Head, and it felt like it was a 50/50 split between who liked and disliked McIlroy. I found myself defending McIlroy, especially on Saturday as he ripped off six straight threes to start his third round. They said he was “stuck up” and “snobby.” One guy strutted up and down the patio, arms and shoulders swaying back and forth, mimicking McIlroy’s walk. It almost resembled Connor McGregor’s famous walk.

Some of those folks changed their opinion on Sunday, and I even received this text message.

Poppy’s putt, and Rory’s redemption

It felt like the week started with Poppy McIlroy sinking an insane putt on Wednesday of the par-3 contest. The week was extended because her dad couldn’t hit a 6-foot putt on 15 and then again on 17.

Shane Lowry’s involvement in both Poppy’s putt and Rory’s victory was awesome.

He was right there when Poppy made that putt, and then he was the one that made it a little dusty in my living room when he gave his friend a bear hug after McIlroy finally finished the job. Incredible scenes. That walk from 18 to the clubhouse is consistently one of the best five minutes in sports every single year.

McIlroy defends caddie, and friend, Harry Diamond

Harry Diamond and Rory McIlroy met on the putting green at Holywood GC as kids. They were the best man at each other’s weddings.

I have been vocal that I think Diamond has been at fault for some of McIlroy’s losses and had made a promise not to pick him to win a major until one of two things happens - McIlroy gets a new caddie or McIlroy wins a major.

McIlroy teared up talking about their friendship at the press conference. It’s been clear for years that McIlroy is loyal, and he wanted so badly to win with his best friend next to him. Xander Schauffele and Austin Kaiser are also great friends, and watching them have those walks up 18 last year seemed to be something that McIlroy hoped for.

He got it.

Diamond put McIlroy at ease on the ride to the 18th tee for the playoff when he told him, "Well, Pal, we would have taken this on Monday morning."

“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.”

History, indeed.

And now I can pick McIlroy again… and for that, I am grateful.

“I’ve gotta go get a green jacket.”

All timer…

Is McIlroy at the beginning of another Hall of Fame stretch?

I posted this on Sunday night.

It’s wild to think that McIlroy could have one of the most unique careers in the history of golf if he can knock off a couple more majors.

This could be a Tom Brady run where he has three different Hall of Fame careers. Brady and the New England Patriots went 10 years between Super Bowls. But the time between Super Bowls saw Tom Brady dominate, win MVPs, and reach a Super Bowl with an 18-0 record (you’re welcome, NY Giants fans patrons.)

The 21-to-24-year-old version of McIlroy was a Hall of Famer. The 24-to-35-year-old version would have had a good argument.

And now, starting with this Masters win, he could generate another HOF run.

Bryson Dechambeau: The Control Freak

Bryson was lost on Sunday, and McIlroy had nothing to say to him during the entire round, which I personally loved. Tiger Woods was revered for this, and Bryson tried to make it sound like it doesn’t happen in competitive golf.

When Bryson isn’t in control, he has a very hard time. That can mean he’s not in control of his game, or his content, or whatever else. It seems to bleed into his game. He always tries hard, I’ll give him that. But he gets in his own way a lot.

Bryson shot 75 on Sunday. It makes me wonder what the U.S. Open would have been like if they had been paired together at Pinehurst last summer.

The LIV vs. PGA Tour

This storyline was sitting in the way-way back of the station wagon this week - rather refreshing. It just doesn’t matter anymore, and two years ago, if this final pairing had happened, it would have been the only thing (aside from the Grand Slam) that would have been discussed. I would have been watching it through that lens, too.

This week, it just didn’t matter to me. Or anyone else.

Speaking of LIV…

The overall performance for the LIV players was sporadic… most impressive might have been Bubba Watson’s T14. He’s 46 years old, and his last top 20 was in the 2019 Masters.

Patrick Reed seems like a guy who will be a 53-year-old contender. He finished in third place this week.

I’d also like to nominate Joaquin Niemann for the “please, just show me something before we actually care about you.”

This is his career in the majors…

Rahm: Still asleep at majors. LIV checks must be real comfy.

Here are his results and scores…

2024 Masters - T45 (72-76-73-76)

2024 PGA Championship - Missed Cut

2024 U.S. Open - Withdraw (foot Injury)

2024 Open Championship - T7 (73-70-72-68)

2025 Masters - T14 (75-71-70-69)

He’s been a no show since leaving for LIV. An opening 75 might be proof that LIV isn’t getting him ready for big-time golf.

The support of premium subscribers helps me sit down on a Monday morning and write this newsletter.

They receive access to all my posts, bonus videos, early access to my course reviews.

Notables

🌹 Justin Rose: 28 years after his T4 in the 1998 Open Championship as a teenager, finishes runner-up. What a career. And he’s still going.

💪 Nick Dunlap: Shoots 90, then a 71. Wild. Kid’s got guts.

😄 Max Homa finishes T12. Glimmer of form, or Augusta magic only? TBD.

Final thoughts

The Masters has proven, once again, that it’s the grandest stage in golf. Tiger won his first major there, and McIlroy referenced that 1997 victory as a catalyst. Then Tiger capped the “Tiger Slam” there in 2001.

Returning to the same venue every year generates a different type of drama. The familiarity creates deep scars, and McIlroy overcame those scars on Sunday while seemingly inflicting more wounds on himself on the 13th hole.

Not many have won at Augusta with scars. But now McIlory has, which speaks to his talent and his place in the game’s history as one of six players to win the career grand slam and the first European player to ever accomplish the feat.

And now, with just 97 days until the Open Championship wraps up on Sunday, July 20th, in McIlroy’s home country of Northern Ireland, we get to generate some new angles.

Here’s one…

Can McIlroy win the 2025 Grand Slam? The courses fit him… and man, what a story it would be to arrive at Portrush in July with that as a storyline.

Here’s another…

Who will become the seventh player to win the career grand slam? Do we even know him yet? Is he a six-year-old somewhere watching the 2025 Masters?

Only time will tell…

I’ll be watching every swing between now and Portrush, ready to dissect Rory’s run for history. Buckle up—Rory’s chasing a new Slam… for now.

Thanks for reading. Enjoy this newsletter? Send it along to a friend!