Donald Trump congratulates Rory McIlroy in avoiding Masters ‘tragedy’
Donald Trump has joined the well-wishers in congratulating Rory McIlroy on his stunning Masters triumph.
The US President, who played golf with McIlroy in February, paid tribute aboard Air Force One on his way back to Washington from Florida, saying he showed courage in avoiding a “tragedy”.
“I have to congratulate Rory,” Trump told reporters. “That took tremendous courage. He was having a hard time, but it showed great guts and stamina and courage.
“People have no idea how tough that is. He came back. It’s better for him that it happened that way because that showed real courage to have come back from what could’ve been a tragedy – it was amazing.”
Meanwhile, McIlroy’s fans at his home-town golf club erupted as he clinched Masters glory – despite not being allowed to toast his success.
McIlroy completed a career grand slam with a remarkable play-off win over Justin Rose, sparking jubilant scenes 3,000 miles away at Holywood Golf Club.
The club’s bar licence meant last orders were called at 10pm, with patrons needing to down their drinks by 10.30pm. McIlroy still has his own parking space in the car park, and fans faced hours of drama as he finally ended his 11-year wait for a fifth major.
“I was absolutely sick with nerves,” Ruth Watt, Holywood Golf Club’s lady captain, told the BBC. “We thought he had thrown it away … but it was an unbelievable finish. I’m going home for a gin and tonic.”
McIlroy grew up in Holywood and his school, Sullivan Upper, awards green blazers to pupils who excel at sport. Some sixth formers watched their idol wearing their own green blazers.
The 35-year-old wept tears of joy after sinking the winning putt at Augusta, embracing his wife of eight years, Erica Stoll. He then knelt down to hug daughter Poppy in emotionally charged scenes on the course.
Tiger Woods welcomed McIlroy to golf’s most exclusive club after his dramatic victory. McIlroy joined Woods, Jack Nicklaus, Gary Player, Ben Hogan and Gene Sarazen in having won all four major titles.
“Welcome to the club @McIlroyRory,” Woods posted on social media. “Completing the grand slam at Augusta is something special. Your determination during this round, and this entire journey has shone through, and now you’re a part of history. Proud of you!”
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
“I’m so happy for him. I’m delighted for him,” Nicklaus said. “It will take the world off his shoulders and you’re now going to see a lot more of really good golf out of Rory McIlroy.”
Nicklaus told his wife, Barbara, that he thought McIlroy would miss his putt on the 18th in regulation play. “And he didn’t [make the putt],” he said. “That’s been his nemesis. When he got there the second time around [in the play-off], first I said, ‘Justin’s putt is not going to break left’. And he’ll see that and his putt was a pretty straight putt, which I think it was. He put it left-centre and it stayed there.
“It takes a really, really talented player to win with some of the shots that Rory hit.”
McIlroy’s close friend Shane Lowry joked that McIlroy could happily retire after completing the career grand slam.
“This means everything to him,” Lowry told Golf Channel. “This is all he thinks about, all he talks about. He always said to me he’d retire a happy man if he won the Green Jacket, so I told Erica he can retire now.
“He’s had a long 10, 11 years, he’s had a lot of hurdles to get over and it’s a credit to him.”
Shane Lowry greeting his best friend. 💛 pic.twitter.com/sMQXL1HECx
— Golf Digest (@GolfDigest) April 13, 2025
Tommy Fleetwood, who finished 21st after a closing 69, added: “I’ve said it a bunch of times, I think Rory is the best player of our generation. I don’t think he’s had to prove that for a while.
“For him to have finally got this one, a career grand slam, is unbelievably special. I think this time was always going to come, it’s just Rory makes you feel like it’s not going to at some point.
“Whatever he did today, Rory’s place in golf [history] was secure, but this has just added another layer on top of that. I do believe he’s the best of our generation and now he’s one of the greatest of all time.”
Sir Nick Faldo was audibly emotional while commentating after McIlroy sank the winning putt. The three-time Masters winner posted on X: “I’ve never been put through the wringer of emotions like that in the commentary box. So pleased for @rorymcilroy and proud to have known him all these years since he was a whipper-snapper in the @faldoseries.”
I've never been put through the wringer of emotions like that in the commentary box. So pleased for @rorymcilroy, and proud to have known him all these years since he was a whippersnapper in the @faldoseries ! #rory#rorymcilroy#TheMasterspic.twitter.com/ftT7i8r834
— Sir Nick Faldo (@Sir_NickFaldo) April 14, 2025
Player, another three-time winner, said: “This is one of the rarest and most difficult achievements in all of sport, something only now six golfers in history have ever accomplished. We are proud to add Rory to our exclusive club and no doubt he has set the standard for his era.
“To win all four major championships takes unwavering perseverance and the courage to overcome adversity time and time again in the face of immeasurable pressure few have ever experienced. Rory showed true grit today and also through the entire tournament.”
Nike wasted no time in capitalising on the triumph with a slick advert released as soon as McIlroy’s victory was confirmed. Opening with a pimento cheese sandwich, a Masters staple, it then pans to a dry cleaner that spins around to reveal a Masters jacket.
”This was always waiting for you,” the advert said, as McIlroy’s Green Jacket had “waiting for pick-up” on its label.
Four majors made @McIlroyRory great. Completing a career Grand Slam, legendary. pic.twitter.com/inD1hyPkWr
— Nike (@Nike) April 13, 2025
Michael D Higgins, the President of Ireland, joined political leaders from across the island in celebrating McIlroy’s victory, calling it a “truly outstanding achievement”.
Michelle O’Neill, Northern Ireland’s First Minister, said the Holywood golfer’s “incredible” triumph placed him among the sport’s greatest.
“This is a huge moment in sporting history, and one that has filled everyone back home with great pride and that will undoubtedly inspire future generations to chase their dreams,” she posted on X. “Enjoy the well-deserved celebrations, Rory!”
🏆⛳️ Massive congratulations to Rory McIlroy on his incredible victory at The Masters—making history as the first ever from our island to win the prestigious Green Jacket!
A phenomenal achievement that completes a career Grand Slam, placing him amongst the greatest ever golf… pic.twitter.com/EfkdK0wHkf
— Michelle O'Neill (@moneillsf) April 13, 2025
Taoiseach Micheal Martin said McIlroy’s historic Augusta triumph was a “marvellous national occasion.” Paying tribute to the Co Down golfer, Martin said he had created a “moment in time that we will all remember”.
Martin said: “It was an incredible evening and we were all up late in the morning.”
The Irish premier said the occasion reminded him of Ireland’s 1990 World Cup penalty shoot-out win over Romania and George Hamilton’s famous “the nation holds its breath” commentary.
He said: “Well, we were holding our breath every five minutes for a good few hours yesterday. Literally holding our breath at every putt and every tee-shot. It was a marvellous national occasion and it’s a moment in time that we will all remember. Our family WhatsApp was going hell for leather, and it won’t be revealed until about 50 years’ time in terms of the kind of commentary in the middle of it.”
Martin said McIlroy’s triumph was a lesson in overcoming adversity, adding: “It was that kind of night but fantastic for him. And it was a great lesson in life, it’s Easter, people fall, people have ups and downs. It’s a triumph of overcoming adversity, it’s resilience in the most raw way demonstrated last evening.
“He bounced back and right throughout you have a person who is showing tremendous mental resilience, a tremendous lesson for all of us in life and for young people in particular they should watch that and learn from it, that life is about taking on challenges.
“Sometimes you won’t get over the line. Then the very primal expression of joy and he’s thinking of his family, his parents, his wife, and kid and his closest friends. And for him, it’s a very special moment and for the rest of the nation, we were privileged to share in it. There is a tremendous history and magic to Augusta, through all these big golf events and they have an Irishman joining five others in the pantheon of greats in golf is a moment of pride for the nation.”
