Masters triumph was unique but Northern Irishman knows more silverware will follow if he maintains his fine form
—
RoryMcIlroy’sremainingtargetsfor2025includenextmonth’sUSPGAChampionship,theUSOpenandtheRyderCupatBethpageinSeptember.Photograph:GeraldHerbert/APWhenyouhavespentsolonglabouringunderaburdenassociatedwiththereachingoftargets,itwouldseemridiculoustosetmore.AtAugustaNationalthismonthRoryMcIlroydidn’tjustwintheMasters.Hedidn’tjustcompletehiscareergrandslam.Hedidn’tjustendawaitforafifthmajorthathadstretchedbacktohishalcyonsummerof2014.McIlroydidallofthisatonce;hisemotiononthe18thgreenwaspartlybecauseofthealmightyweightthathadbeenprisedfromhisshoulders.
McIlroy’ssubsequentcelebrationwasendearing,butalsothought-provoking.Hespenttimewithhisparents,hiswiderfamily,hislifetimecoachandchildhoodfriends.Therewasnoopen-topbusparadethroughthestreetsofhisnativeHolywoodorwildpartyatthegolfclubbearingthesamename.Nopubliclapofhonour.Allthatcanwait.
Related:RocketmanRoryMcIlroybaskinginhisstatusa
