Rory McIlroy says Masters win the best day of his golfing life

Rory McIlroy said winning The Masters to become only the sixth man to complete the career Grand Slam was the best day of his golfing life.

Eleven years after winning the third of golf's four biggest prizes at The Open Championship and adding a fourth Major with his second US PGA title, the Northern Irishman finally captured his first Green Jacket after a “roller-coaster” final round.

A closing 73 barely told the story of McIlroy's remarkable round, which included two double bogeys but also some of the best shots of his remarkable career.

It left him tied with first-round leader and Ryder Cup team-mate Justin Rose on 11 under, with McIlroy winning the play-off after a birdie on the first trip back down the 18th at Augusta National.

“I have dreamt about that moment for as long as I can remember,” said McIlroy. “I mentioned it out in the prize ceremony, but watching Tiger (Woods) here in 1997 do what he did, and then winning his first Green Jacket, I think that inspired so many of my generation to want to emulate what he did.

“There were points in my career where I didn't know if I would have this nice garment over my shoulders, but I didn't make it easy today.

“I was nervous. It was one of the toughest days I've ever had on the golf course. In a funny way, I feel like the double-bogey at the first sort of settled my nerves.”

Having started the day two shots clear of Bryson DeChambeau, World Number Two McIlroy recovered from his nightmare start to surge four shots clear at the turn.

However, it was far from done and dusted as Rose rolled in ten birdies in a stunning 66 and McIlroy came unstuck when dunking a wedge approach in the water at the 13th en route to another double bogey.

That was followed by another dropped shot on the 14th but McIlroy hooked a remarkable second shot onto the green at the par-five 15th, played a stunning approach to the 17th to set up a crucial birdie and, after missing from five feet at the last in regulation play, spun a gap wedge to half that range to seal victory in the play-off.

“Just a complete roller-coaster of a day,” McIlroy added. “I'm just really proud of how I bounced back from the double on one, from the double on 13. I don't know if any Masters champions had four doubles during the week, but maybe I'm the first.”

On the pressure to become the first players since Tiger Woods in 2000 to complete the career Grand Slam, McIlroy added: “It's very difficult. I think I've carried that burden since August 2014. It's nearly 11 years.

“And not just about winning my next Major, but the career Grand Slam. You know, trying to join a group of five players to do it, watching a lot of my peers get Green Jackets in the process.

“It was a heavy weight to carry, and thankfully now I don't have to carry it and it frees me up and I know I'm coming back here every year, which is lovely.

“There was points on the back nine today, I thought, you know, have I let this slip again? But you know, again, I responded with some clutch shots when I needed to, and really proud of myself for that.

“It's the best day of my golfing life. And yeah, I'm very proud of myself. I'm proud of never giving up.”

The result was cruel on 44-year-old Rose, who finished as runner-up at Augusta National for the third time, having been second to Jordan Spieth in 2015 and being beaten by Sergio Garcia in a 2017 play-off.

“I congratulated him on a great week,” McIlroy said. “He's a great champion. He has displayed so much grace throughout his career.

“He's a good friend and hopefully he has a few more opportunities.”