Rory McIlroy wins the Masters and Grand Slam after years of major heartbreak

2011 Masters

Augusta National is where it all began for a then precocious 21-year-old who swaggered into a four-shot lead before the final round of the Masters, with the Green Jacket already getting measured up.

Then disaster struck with tee shots hooking into trees and short putts being missed as McIlroy went round in 80 ,including a second nine of 43, to see a maiden major title slip through his fingers in agonising fashion.

2018 Masters

McIlroy was in the final pairing at Augusta again in 2018, and although three shots behind Patrick Reed, plenty fancied McIlroy to put the record straight at the Masters and complete his Grand Slam in his first big chance.

The big disappointment though was that he never really laid a glove on the leader, missing a four-footer to tie on the second before fading away to a two-over round of 74 to finish sixth.

2022 Open

Despite plenty of top 10s and a brief Sunday lead at the 2018 Open, the next big chance came at St Andrews in the 150th staging of golf’s oldest major. He went into Sunday at the Old Course tied with Viktor Hovland at the top of the leaderboard.

This was a tough one to take. McIlroy had a three-shot lead at the start of the back nine but Cameron Smith birdied five holes in a row to shoot 64 and claim the Claret Jug with a fine comeback.

McIlroy did not drop a shot but made just two birdies in his round of 70, in the end paying the price for perhaps not putting his foot on the gas more when Smith came with his late run.