With a green jacket secured, how much higher can the new Masters champion fly?
—
AUGUSTA,Ga.—Thelate-daysunwasalmostbelowthehorizon,settlingbehindthepinesthatlineAugustaNational’sfifthfairway.Manyoftheremainingpatronswho’djustwitnessedhistory—andtherewerethousandsstillwanderingthecourse,smilinginthegoldenlight—gatheredtowatchRoryMcIlroydonagreenjacketatlast,atlonglast.
Chantsof“RO-RY!RO-RY!”rangoutaroundtheputtinggreenwhereMcIlroystood,flankedbyhisfamily,hiscaddie,2024championScottieScheffler,andanarrayofgreenjackets.Afewpatronswavedtheircaps,RyderCupEuro-style;onehoarseguytriedtogeta“GRAAAAND…SLAM!”chantgoing,buthewasalone.
Inthecenterofacircleofpatrons,inthecenterofthegolfuniverse,therestoodMcIlroyinhisbrand-new38Regulargreenjacket.Hedidn’tlookquiterightinityet,likeastarplayerintheuniformoftheirbloodrival,buthe’llgetthere.
Overthecourseofashortspeech—lessthanfourminutes—McIlroypaidatearful,joyfultributetotheclub,thepatrons,hisfamily,evenAugustaNational’sno-phonep
