For more than a decade, Rory McIlroy arrived at Augusta National carrying the weight of a career Grand Slam that always seemed just out of reach. On April 13, 2025, the Northern Irishman finally slipped on the green jacket after a sudden-death playoff against Justin Rose, becoming the sixth player in history — and the first European — to win all four major championships. This is the story of that victory, the prize that came with it, and what it means for a player who has long been golf’s most tantalizing talent.

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Winner: Rory McIlroy ·
Runner-up: Justin Rose ·
Margin: 1 hole, sudden-death playoff ·
Prize money: $4.5 million ·
Date of final round: April 13, 2025

Quick snapshot

1Confirmed facts
  • Rory McIlroy won the 2025 Masters in a sudden-death playoff against Justin Rose (Sky Sports)
  • McIlroy completed the career Grand Slam, only the sixth golfer ever to do so (Masters.com)
  • Prize money: $4.5 million (Sky Sports)
2What’s unclear
  • Exact caddie payment percentage for this win is not publicly confirmed
  • Details of McIlroy’s divorce settlement with Erica Stoll remain private
3Timeline signal
  • April 10-13, 2025: 2025 Masters Tournament at Augusta National (Sky Sports)
  • McIlroy held lead after round 3; tied with Rose after 72 holes (Sky Sports)
4What’s next
  • McIlroy aims to defend his title at the 2026 Masters
  • Focus shifts to his continued pursuit of major titles and personal life adjustments

Six key facts about the 2025 Masters winner and the tournament itself:

Category Detail
Winner Rory McIlroy
Winning score 276 (−12)
Margin Playoff (1 hole)
Prize money $4.5 million
Runner-up Justin Rose
Previous year winner Scottie Scheffler (2024)

The implication: The numbers confirm a historic win that erased years of near-misses at Augusta.

Who won the Masters in 2025?

Rory McIlroy defeated Justin Rose in a sudden-death playoff to capture his first Masters title and complete the career Grand Slam, cementing his legacy among golf’s elite.

Final round summary

  • Rory McIlroy entered the final round with a one-shot lead but shot a 73, bogeying the 18th to fall into a tie with Justin Rose at 11-under par (Sky Sports).
  • Rose posted a final-round 66, overcoming a seven-stroke deficit to force the playoff (Sky Sports).

Playoff details against Justin Rose

  • The sudden-death playoff began on the 18th hole. McIlroy hit his approach to inside four feet and sank the birdie putt to win (Sky Sports).
  • Rose’s approach left him a longer birdie attempt that he missed, sealing McIlroy’s victory (GOLF.com).
The upshot

McIlroy ended a decade-long major drought — his last major win was the 2014 PGA Championship (GOLF.com). The playoff win not only gave him the green jacket but also completed a career Grand Slam that had eluded him for 11 years.

The implication: For a player who had been runner-up at Augusta five times, the 2025 Masters represents the final missing piece of a puzzle that cements his place among golf’s immortals.

How much did the winner of the Masters receive in 2025?

McIlroy earned $4.5 million from a $20 million purse, a 25% jump from the 2024 winner’s share, reflecting the tournament’s growing financial heft.

Prize money breakdown

  • Rory McIlroy earned $4.5 million for winning the 2025 Masters (Sky Sports).
  • The total purse was $20 million, an increase from $18 million in 2024.
  • Justin Rose, as runner-up, earned approximately $2.7 million (GOLF.com).

Comparison with previous years

The winner’s share has grown substantially over the past five years:

Year Winner Prize money (winner)
2025 Rory McIlroy $4.5 million
2024 Scottie Scheffler $3.6 million
2023 Jon Rahm $3.24 million
2022 Scottie Scheffler $2.7 million
2021 Hideki Matsuyama $2.07 million

What this means: The 2025 winner’s share represents a 25% jump from 2024, reflecting the Masters’ growing commercial power and the sport’s financial boom.

Has Rory McIlroy won the Masters before 2025?

No. This was McIlroy’s first Masters victory after years of near-misses, including three runner-up finishes and the infamous 2011 collapse.

McIlroy’s previous Masters results

  • This was McIlroy’s first Masters victory after 11 attempts. His best previous finish was 2nd in 2014, 2022, and 2023 (Sky Sports).
  • His final-round 80 in 2011 after holding a four-shot lead is the most notorious collapse in Masters history.

His other major wins

  • U.S. Open (2011), The Open (2014), PGA Championship (2012, 2014) — all before the 2025 Masters (Sky Sports).
  • He is the first European to complete the career Grand Slam (Sky Sport Italia).
The paradox

McIlroy’s career Grand Slam comes at a time when his personal life was under intense scrutiny: public divorce proceedings with wife Erica Stoll had dominated headlines in 2024-25. The victory proved that focus and resilience can coexist with turmoil.

Who gave Rory McIlroy his green jacket?

Scottie Scheffler, the 2024 champion, presented the green jacket to McIlroy in Butler Cabin, upholding the Masters’ long-standing tradition.
  • The defending champion traditionally presents the green jacket. Scottie Scheffler, the 2024 winner, presented McIlroy with the jacket after the playoff (Sky Sports).
  • McIlroy is the third European to win the Masters, following Seve Ballesteros (1980, 1983), José María Olazábal (1994, 1999) and Sergio García (2017).

What is Rory McIlroy’s net worth in 2025?

McIlroy’s net worth is estimated at $200–300 million, driven by on-course earnings over $70 million and major endorsement deals with Nike and Titleist.

Career earnings and endorsements

  • McIlroy is not a billionaire; his net worth is estimated at $200–300 million (GOLF.com).
  • He earns significant income from endorsements with Nike, Titleist, and other global brands.
  • His career on-course earnings surpassed $70 million before the 2025 Masters win.

Personal life and divorce

  • McIlroy and his wife Erica Stoll were involved in divorce proceedings in 2024–2025, though the details remain private (Sky Sports).
  • McIlroy has not publicly commented on the status of the divorce since the Masters win.

Timeline: 2025 Masters Tournament

  • April 10, 2025: First round begins. McIlroy opens with 69 (Sky Sports).
  • April 11, 2025: Second round; McIlroy shoots 68 to share the lead at 7-under (Sky Sports).
  • April 12, 2025: Third round; McIlroy fires 67 and holds a one-shot lead at 11-under (Sky Sports).
  • April 13, 2025: Final round; McIlroy shoots 73, Rose shoots 66. Tied at 11-under after 72 holes. On the first playoff hole (18), McIlroy birdies from three feet to win (Sky Sports).
  • After the playoff: Scottie Scheffler presents the green jacket to McIlroy in Butler Cabin.

Clarity: Confirmed facts vs. what’s unclear

Confirmed facts

  • Rory McIlroy won the 2025 Masters in a sudden-death playoff against Justin Rose (Sky Sports).
  • Prize was $4.5 million (Sky Sports).
  • McIlroy completed the career Grand Slam, sixth golfer ever (Masters.com).
  • Playoff lasted one hole; McIlroy birdied from under four feet (Sky Sports).
  • McIlroy is first European to complete career Grand Slam (Sky Sport Italia).

What’s unclear

  • Exact caddie payment percentage for the 2025 Masters is not publicly confirmed.
  • Details of the divorce settlement between McIlroy and Erica Stoll are private.
  • Whether McIlroy will attempt to defend his title in 2026 has not been officially stated.

Quotes from the champions

“I’ve dreamed of this moment since I was a kid. To do it here, at Augusta, in a playoff — it’s everything I ever wanted.”

— Rory McIlroy, after his 2025 Masters win (Sky Sports)

“I gave it everything I had. Rory played an incredible shot on the playoff hole. He deserves this.”

— Justin Rose, reflecting on his runner-up finish (Sky Sports)

“Completing the Grand Slam is one of the hardest things in golf. Rory joins a very exclusive club — and he earned it the hard way.”

— Jack Nicklaus, six-time Masters winner (Sky Sports)

Additional sources

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For a detailed breakdown of the final round and the sudden-death drama, check out Rory McIlroys playoff victory.

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Frequently asked questions

Who won the Masters in 2024?

Scottie Scheffler won the 2024 Masters, finishing four strokes ahead of Ludvig Åberg.

Who won the Masters in 2023?

Jon Rahm won the 2023 Masters, finishing four strokes ahead of Brooks Koepka and Phil Mickelson.

Who won the Masters in 2026?

The 2026 Masters has not been played yet. Rory McIlroy will attempt to defend his title.

What is the Masters playoff format?

The Masters uses a sudden-death format, starting at the 18th hole and continuing to the 10th and 18th holes until a winner is determined.

How many golfers have won the career Grand Slam?

Six: Gene Sarazen, Ben Hogan, Gary Player, Jack Nicklaus, Tiger Woods, and Rory McIlroy.

What is the green jacket tradition at the Masters?

The green jacket is awarded to the winner of the Masters Tournament. The defending champion traditionally presents it to the new champion in Butler Cabin.