Rory McIlroy plays perfect playoff hole to win elusive green jacket at the 89th Masters

The GIST: Emotional, thrilling, and historic — yesterday was Rory McIlroy’s ultimate masterpiece. As you read, the Irishman beat England’s Justin Rose in dramatic fashion, draining a birdie putt on the first playoff hole to win his first-ever green jacket at the 89th Masters.

McIlroy becomes sixth player in Tour history to complete career grand slam: Eleven attempts, a 10-year Major drought, and a plethora of heartbreaking moments later, McIlroy finally did it, joining the likes of golf legends Jack Nicklaus and Tiger Woods who’ve won all four Majors — the US Open, the British Open, the PGA Championship, and the Masters — during their careers.

• McIlroy notably checked the first three Majors off early in his career, winning the U.S. Open in 2011, the PGA Championship in 2012 and 2014, and the British Open in 2014, but a Masters title had proven to be elusive…until now.

How he did it: In typical Rory fashion, McIlroy’s final round was an absolute roller coaster, a masterclass in both what to do and what not to do on golf’s biggest stage. Up by as many as five strokes during yesterday’s final round, it felt like the worst kind of déjà vu was imminent after he bogeyed the 18th hole, forcing a playoff with Rose.

• But McIlroy’s resilience and experience shined through in a perfectly played playoff hole that sealed his first Masters win in 17 attempts. Crying in the club(house).

Zooming out: McIlroy’s emotional win, one that he shared with long-time caddy and best friend Harry Diamond, catapults him onto the proverbial Mount Rushmore of golfers. And now that the pressure of winning a green jacket is off, this could be just the beginning of a tee-rrific year ahead.