Rory McIlroy has called out Tiger Woods and three other golf legends, insisting their comments that he was destined to win the Masters 'didn't help' as he finally won the Green Jacket at Augusta on Sunday.
The Briton went into the day two shots ahead of Bryson DeChambeau, only for Justin Rose to end up as his main rival.
After a tense play-off, McIlroy was able to get the better of Rose and finally achieve the career Grand Slam - 11 years on from his last major.
Woods, as well as Jack Nicklaus, Gary Player and Tom Watson, long believed that McIlroy would triumph at Augusta one day.
Rory McIlroy has called out Tiger Woods and three other golf legends, insisting their comments that he was destined to win the Masters 'didn't help' as he finally won the Green Jacket at Augusta on Sunday
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That has finally happened, with the Northern Irishman cementing his place among the golfing gods.
But McIlroy, speaking in the aftermath of his sensational achievement, has admitted that their comments 'didn't help' - and that he wished they'd never put such pressure on his shoulders.
“It's tough. You've had Jack, Gary, Tom, Tiger, you name it, come through here, and all say that I'll win the Masters one day," he said.
"That's a hard load to carry. It is. It really is.
“These are idols of mine, and look, it's very flattering that they all come up here and they believe in me, and they believe in my abilities to be able to win this tournament and achieve the Grand Slam and all that, but it doesn't help, you know? I wish they didn't say it.
“It was all relief. There wasn't much joy in that reaction. It was all relief. And then the joy came pretty soon after that.
"I've been coming here 17 years, and it was a decade-plus of emotion that came out of me there.”
Woods was among those to pay tribute to McIlroy after his epic win.
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Welcome to the club @McIlroyRory. Completing the grand slam at Augusta is something special. Your determination during this round, and this entire journey has shown through, and now you’re a part of history. Proud of you!
— Tiger Woods (@TigerWoods) April 14, 2025
"Welcome to the club @McIlroyRory. Completing the grand slam at Augusta is something special," he said on X.
"Your determination during this round, and this entire journey has shown through, and now you’re a part of history.
"Proud of you!"
Sky Sports pundits Butch Harmon and Sir Nick Faldo were also full of praise for McIlroy as he became the sixth golfer in history to achieve the career Grand Slam.
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Harmon hailed the golfer by saying: "I think we saw one of the greatest days in golf we will ever see.
"I have known Rory since he was 16, done a little work with him at times, and this is one of the most amazing victories I have ever seen.
"It had an ebb and flow that a Hollywood producer could not have come up with. If you wrote a script like this, they would say is was BS!
"Double bogeys, birdies, missing three-footers, hitting it in the junk. I will never forget this day."
Rory McIlroy celebrated his Masters win with his wife and daughter after making history at Augusta
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And Faldo added: "We have seen the most amazing piece of history ever. We are honoured to have been here to see it.
"When Tiger Woods won here in 2019 I said that scene would never be topped but I was wrong. This tops it.
"For a man to do that after what he went through for 11 years - Rory is a legend now. He is 35 years old and a legend. How about that?!
"It is a remarkable achievement."
