AUGUSTA, Ga. – Augusta National Golf Club had once again brought Rory McIlroy to his knees.
After easily the most emotionally draining day of his Masters career, McIlroy had nothing left. Doubled over, his elbows firmly planted into the bentgrass turf, head buried for what seemed like forever, McIlroy finally uncurled back to his knees and with fists clenched screamed toward the sky, a decade-plus of emotion pouring out of him.
This time, though, he rose a champion.
“It was all relief,” McIlroy said later, wearing that once elusive green jacket, a 38-regular and the final piece to the career Grand Slam earned Sunday evening via a playoff victory over Justin Rose.