Author: Alexandra Caspers

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The Masters Tournament 2025: Rory McIlroy wins career Grand Slam in gripping play-off

Rory McIlroy wins The Masters Tournament 2025. (Photo: Getty)
Rory McIlroy wins The Masters Tournament 2025. (Photo: Getty)

It’s done: Rory McIlroy has broken his Major curse and crowned himself the winner of the The Masters Tournament 2025. He had to shake and cheer his way through a turbulent final round and even go through a playoff with Justin Rose, but at the end of the road is the long-awaited Green Jacket and with it the career Grand Slam.

The Masters Tournament 2025 – All Live Scores

The Masters Tournament 2025: Rory McIlroy’s fulfillment

McIlroy did not make it easy for himself. His lead was already gone after a double bogey on hole 1, and Bryson DeChambeau took the lead from him on hole 2. McIlroy struggled with the fairways and a cold putter. Nevertheless, he made two birdies on holes 3 and 4 and regained the lead. While DeChambeau made mistakes, McIlroy built up a four-shot lead.

But every golf fan knows that the Masters doesn’t start until Sunday on the back nine and those words were truer than ever today. The four-shot lead melted away in Amen Corner, while the cavalry got into position behind them. First and foremost Justin Rose, who made nine birdies on his round and even took the lead from his Ryder Cup colleague at times, especially after the latter made a double bogey on the 13th. McIlroy actually wanted to play it safe and put the ball in front, only to see it disappear into Rae’s Creek. Even after Rose had finished his round, the two Brits were tied for the lead, but it was up to McIlroy to take the lead.

In the play-off, he had to compete against Justin Rose. Both delivered excellent shots into the green, but at the end of a long week it was Rory McIlroy who was able to convert his slightly better birdie chance and secure victory. The relief and emotion drained away as McIlroy finally achieved the goal he had been aiming for again and again after such a long time.

It is a historic moment. Not only does McIlroy win a major tournament again after more than ten long years, he also completes his career Grand Slam. After the PGA Championship, US Open and Open Championship, he completes the quartet. Only five golfers in history have ever achieved this: Gene Sarazen, Ben Hogan, Gary Player, Jack Nicklaus and, most recently, Tiger Woods.

Bryson DeChambeau shoots himself out of the final round
Bryson DeChambeau shot himself out of the race relatively quickly. After a birdie on hole 2, with which he snatched the lead from McIlroy, two bogeys followed and nothing really wanted to work out for him. While McIlroy extended his lead, DeChambeau remained nine shots under par until the Amen Corner. But then his nerves got the better of him. He played the ball into the water for a double bogey on the 11th, followed by a bogey on the 12th and the chance of victory was gone. After a stroke gain on the 14th, he tried to attack on the 15th, but was not rewarded and ended up in the water again. He managed to save the par and followed it up with a birdie on the 16th, but the gap to the leaders was too big. Instead, it was defending champion Scottie Scheffler and former champion Patrick Reed who started a race to catch up in the final and finished ahead of DeChambeau.

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The Masters Tournament 2025: Ball moves – Min Woo Lee receives penalty at Augusta

Min Woo Leeat the Masters Tournament 2025. (Foto: Getty)
Min Woo Leeat the Masters Tournament 2025. (Foto: Getty)

Min Woo Lee was in the middle of the field when he teed off for Moving Day at the Masters Tournament 2025 . But things went south on the back nine. After bogeys on holes 10 and 11—both times missing the green—Lee ran into further trouble on the par-5 13th, where he was handed a penalty stroke.

His tee shot landed safely in the middle of the fairway, but the ball suddenly moved. To clarify the situation, Lee called in a rules official. After a review, the official concluded that Lee’s actions near the ball had caused it to move—this was confirmed in an official statement released by the Masters Committee. As a result, one penalty stroke was added to Lee’s score on the 13th hole under Rule 9.4b.

This rule states: “If a player lifts or deliberately touches their ball at rest or causes it to move, the player gets one penalty stroke.” What exactly caused the ball to move remains unknown.
Lee went on to lose two more strokes during the round and finished with a 77 (+5), dropping him to T49 on the leaderboard.

The Masters Tournament 2025 – All Live Scores

The Masters Tournament 2025: Statement regarding Min Woo Lee’s penalty stroke


Rule 9.4b is part of the Rule 9.4 category, which applies “when it is known or virtually certain that the player (including their caddie) lifted or deliberately touched their ball at rest or that their actions caused the ball to move.”

There are exceptions—for example, if the ball is allowed to be lifted to drop it, if it was accidentally moved during a search, during the application of another rule, or if it came to rest on the player or their equipment. On the putting green, accidental ball movement would also not result in a penalty. However, none of these exceptions applied in Lee’s case.

Tee Times: Rory McIlroy and Bryson DeChambeau fight for Green Jacket

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The Masters Tournament 2025: Rory McIlroy back in contention

(Photo: Getty)
(Photo: Getty)

A Masters champion can’t afford to make any mistakes, there has not been a green jacket with more than one double bogey – after Rory McIlroy’s performance on the back nine in the first round of the Masters Tournament 2025, the statisticians were quick to show that the tournament was actually over for the Northern Irishman. But they didn’t do the math with Rory McIlroy.

The Masters Tournament: Rory McIlroy conquers Amen Corner

He took it easy on the front nine, played a birdie on hole 2, but otherwise made no mistakes in the slightly windy conditions. “I tried not to push too hard from the start,” he explained after his round. “I wanted the round to come to me.” By hole 10, the round had arrived. After a perfectly placed second shot, the birdie on the par-4 was a formality and the start of an outstanding section. McIlroy repeated his magic shot on hole 11, but left himself a slightly longer putt for birdie. He also converted it.

A Rory McIlroy highlight on No. 10. He moves to two under par. #themasters pic.twitter.com/FJ2RC7ojSC — The Masters (@TheMasters) April 11, 2025

The highlight then came at the exit of Amen Corner: on 13, he played his second shot out of the pine needles, which was not uncommon on Friday, as he found himself there more often. McIlroy hit only 54 percent of the fairways, but 76 percent of the greens. From his position on 13, McIlroy was unable to judge whether the ball would land on the green or in Rae’s Creek. All the greater the relief when his shot rolled to within 9 ft of the flag. McIlroy converted for eagle and found himself back in the top five of the leaderboard, within reach of leader Justin Rose and his rival Bryson DeChambeau.

Roaring into contention. McIlroy eagles No. 13 and is now tied for fourth. #themasters pic.twitter.com/1i65HRkd33 — The Masters (@TheMasters) April 11, 2025

Where he had suffered a bitter double bogey the day before, McIlroy won another shot and finished the round without making any mistakes. “I had to remind myself that I played pretty well yesterday,” said the 35-year-old about the mindset with which he started the day. “I played 16 pretty good holes and two not so good ones.” His round of 66 was the best round of the day at the time and he was just two shots off the leader Justin Rose.

The Masters Tournament 2025 – All Live Scores
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The Masters Tournament: Amateur urinates into Rae’s Creek

Jose Luis Ballester at the MAsters Tournament 2025. (Photo: Getty)
Jose Luis Ballester at the MAsters Tournament 2025. (Photo: Getty)

Spanish amateur Jose Luis Ballester caused a few raised eyebrows at the The Masters Tournament 2025. At first it was just the upside-down writing on his cap that caused piqued reactions, but then the US Amateur Champion made an even bigger faux pas. Because when he simply couldn’t keep up in Amen Corner, he relieved himself without further ado in Rae’s Creek. Especially at Augusta National Golf Club, where etiquette is very important and even smartphones and sitting on the ground are prohibited, this does not go down well.

The Masters Tournament 2025 Amateur: “I really had to pee”

He himself takes it casually and with a pinch of humor. “I completely forgot that we had those restrooms to the left of the 13th tee box. I’m like, I really need to pee. Didn’t really know where to go, and since JT had an issue on the green, I’m like, I’m just going to sneak here in the river and probably people would not see me that much, and then they clapped for me. Probably one of the laudest claps that I really got today, so that was kind of funny.”

He is not afraid of any repercussions. “It was not embarrassing at all for me. If I had to do it again, I would do it again.” Ballester was in a flight with Justin Thomas and defending champion Scottie Scheffler and played a round of 76.

The Masters Tournament 2025 – All Live Scores

Zum Leaderboard des US Masters 2025

José Luis Ballester explained why he urinated in Rae’s Creek during today’s opening round of the Masters. pic.twitter.com/4CduoJScId — Golf Digest (@GolfDigest) April 10, 2025

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Paige Spiranac on site at the Masters Tournament 2025

(Photo: x.com/@paigespiranac))
(Photo: x.com/@paigespiranac))

Paige Spiranac is on site at the Masters Tournament 2025 in Augusta. The golf influencer often attracts attention with her revealing social media appearances. She also dressed up for the Masters.

Paige Spiranac: Happy Masters Week

Particularly impressive: the “Happy Masters Week” post. In keeping with the theme, she wears a green jacket and a green mini skirt. A Masters winner probably couldn’t afford this look. The picture was originally taken in 2021, when she was promoting a Masters-themed towel collection. The current occasion invited us to post this picture again.

Happy Masters Week!⛳️ pic.twitter.com/Y3ldsxyFXJ — Paige Spiranac (@PaigeSpiranac) April 7, 2025

On Wednesday, she was with Samantha Marks, who does PR work for TGL, at the practice round and the par 3 contest at Augusta National Golf Club. A mesh dress only gives a hint of what’s underneath and a Masters-style sun hat is a must-have headpiece.

 
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She was also on site at Magnolia Lane on Tuesday and gave a deep insight.

Tuesday at Augusta⛳️ pic.twitter.com/ZuBPDEcp6Z — Paige Spiranac (@PaigeSpiranac) April 8, 2025

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The Masters Tournament 2025: Poppy McIlroy sinks mega putt at par 3 contest

(Photo: Getty)
(Photo: Getty)

At the Par 3 Contest before the Masters Tournament 2025, the focus was once again on fun. It’s all the more amazing when the mini stars also shine with sporting performances. Like Poppy McIlroy this year. Rory McIlory‘s four-year-old daughter holed a downhill putt from over 7.5 meters on hole 9 of the short course. She only had to tap the ball once with the putter she was holding in one hand.

The cheers were huge, not only from proud dad McIlroy and flight partner and hype man Shane Lowry, but also from the spectators around them.

Poppy McIlroy converts the lengthy putt on No. 9! #themasters pic.twitter.com/6Vfkfxm3v7 — The Masters (@TheMasters) April 9, 2025

However, the sudden excitement surrounding her unsettled the four-year-old a little and she had to be comforted by her dad and mom. A major tournament sure is exhausting!

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These LIV golfers will compete at the US Masters 2025 in Augusta

These LIV golfers will compete at the US Masters 2025 at Augusta National Golf Club. (Photo: Getty)
These LIV golfers will compete at the US Masters 2025 at Augusta National Golf Club. (Photo: Getty)

For players who joined the LIV Golf League, qualifying for Major championships has become increasingly difficult. Since they do not receive Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR) points in their own league and are banned from participating in PGA Tour events, there are limited opportunities for LIV players to secure a spot in the sport’s most prestigious tournaments.

However, both the USGA and The R&A have responded to this challenge by creating explicit qualifying paths for LIV players, allowing them easier access to the U.S. Open and The Open Championship. Their reasoning? They want to ensure that the best golfers in the world are represented in their fields.

The first Major of the year, though, is the Masters – traditionally the most exclusive of the four Majors, with a limited field of around 90 players invited annually to compete at Augusta National Golf Club. There is no direct qualification path for LIV Golf players, yet 12 LIV golfers will once again be part of the Masters field in 2025.

One group of players that will always have a place at Augusta is the Masters champions. Former winners receive a lifetime invitation to the event. This includes Dustin Johnson, Sergio Garcia, Phil Mickelson, Jon Rahm, Patrick Reed, Charl Schwartzel, and Bubba Watson. Other LIV players qualified by winning one of the other three Majors in recent years – Bryson DeChambeau (U.S. Open 2024), Brooks Koepka (PGA Championship 2023), and Cameron Smith (The Open 2022). Tyrrell Hatton may not yet have a Major title, but he finished inside the top 12 at the 2024 Masters, earning him an automatic return. He is also currently ranked inside the world’s top 50, another standard route for qualification. Joaquin Niemann, while not officially qualified through traditional categories, received a special invitation from Augusta National due to his exceptional performances, similar to last year.

All LIV Golfers Competing at the 2025 US Masters:

  • Bryson DeChambeau
  • Tyrrell Hatton
  • Brooks Koepka
  • Cameron Smith
  • Dustin Johnson
  • Sergio Garcia
  • Phil Mickelson
  • Jon Rahm
  • Patrick Reed
  • Charl Schwartzel
  • Bubba Watson
  • Joaquin Niemann

Also worth mentioning is Laurie Canter, a former LIV player. He was still listed as a reserve early in 2024 but later left the league entirely. Since then, he’s been able to play events like The Players Championship, having qualified through strong performances on the DP World Tour. His current position inside the world’s top 50 also earned him a spot at the 2025 US Masters.

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PGA Tour

PGA Tour: Player deliberately hinders leading flight

(Screenshot: Instagram/@Skratch)
(Screenshot: Instagram/@Skratch)

Alejandro Tosti started together with Min Woo Lee and Ryan Fox in the final flight of the PGA Tour’s Houston Open, but seemed very unhappy with his two playing partners.

Tosti clashed with Ryan Fox on the very first hole when Tosti took his time to drop his ball, reported course reporter Jim ‘Bones’ Mackay. A few holes later, however, the situation turned around: Min Woo Lee’s tee shot on hole 8, a par-5, landed under a bush. After the ball was found, it took Lee seven minutes to play it after considering various options, including hitting the ball on his knees. In the end, he decided to declare the ball unplayable. It took the flight a total of 30 minutes to complete just this one hole.

Tosti: Slow play in protest

Tosti then appeared to complain to a rules official about Lee’s pace of play. However, when no consequences followed, the Argentinian took matters into his own hands and seemingly deliberately played slowly to hold off the final flight and Lee, who was fighting for victory. A video from the broadcast shows Tosti just stepping on the fairway while Lee had almost reached his ball. At this point, Tosti himself was seven shots behind Lee at the top, with no chance of victory.

PGA Tour: Scheffler und McIlroy in Top 10 bei Min Woo Lees Sieg
 
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‘I don’t know what’s going on, but Tosti plays at his own pace,’ Mackay described the scene. ‘Sometimes it’s normal. Sometimes it’s glacially slow. But on this particular hole, he’s decided to really take his time, and he’s holding up play in this last group.’

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The Masters: Rory McIlroy plays practice round in Augusta

Rory McIlroy play practice round in Augusta ahead of The Masters tournament 2025. (Photo: Getty)
Rory McIlroy play practice round in Augusta ahead of The Masters tournament 2025. (Photo: Getty)

For Rory McIlroy, this week is all about preparing for the Masters 2025. The week began for him with a practice round at Augusta National on Monday and his start at the Houston Open is also a strategy to get into top form and finally secure the Green Jacket.

Rory McIlroy on a practice round at Augusta National

‘It’s nice for me to play a practice round without people around and it sort of takes the pressure off the week for me,’ said McIlroy, who took his time to look round Augusta National Golf Club. In addition to the usual benefits of a practice round, this appointment also served to explore possible changes as a result of the destruction caused by Hurricane Helene. In September 2024, the storm caused devastating damage in the south-east of the USA and the community of Augusta and Augusta National Golf Club were also affected. The impact on the venue of the Masters was largely limited to a few fallen trees and the resulting damage to the golf course, while the surrounding population was significantly more affected.

Four greens had been redone, McIlroy reported of his findings, including that of the 16th fairway, where two of the trees had fallen. ‘The loss of a few trees is definitely noticeable but in terms of, they’ve had to redo that green [the 16th], it’s exactly the same as what it was,’ said the Northern Irishman. ‘The hole will play – apart from a few less shadows on the green late in the day because of the trees that were lost – pretty much the same.’

Rory McIlroy’s Masters preparation

McIlroy used the two weeks of privacy before the first major to familiarise himself with the course again in peace, as there is always a lot of hustle and bustle during the week of the tournament. ‘There are a lot of obligations, there are big commitments whether it be from media or the par-three tournament on Wednesday, so I just like to get up there and feel like I’m not rushed on the Tuesday, Wednesday the week of the tournament.’ In the past, McIlroy has tried a number of strategies to optimise his preparation, including avoiding as much of the pre-tournament hustle and bustle as possible. There were years when he avoided events such as the Par 3 Contest as well as participating in tournaments shortly before the Major. He seems to be taking a different approach this year, as his start at the Houston Open two weeks before the Masters shows.

But even though this week should help him to optimise his game, he is not just thinking about the Masters. ‘It’s not as if I’m playing here this week and thinking about two weeks’ time. I’m here, I’m in the present, I’m trying to do my best this week and trying to win this golf tournament.’

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Angela Stanford Named Captain for 2026 U.S. Solheim Cup Team

Angela Stanford will be Solheim Cup captain for Team USA at the 2026 Solheim Cup. (Photo: Getty)
Angela Stanford will be Solheim Cup captain for Team USA at the 2026 Solheim Cup. (Photo: Getty)

After three turns as an assistant captain, Angela Stanford will take the helm of her first U.S. Solheim Cup Team in 2026. Stanford, a six-time veteran of the American squad, will captain the top 12 American female golfers as they represent their country at Bernardus Golf in the Netherlands, from Sept. 11-13, 2026.

Solheim Cup 2026: Angela Stanford will be captain

“I’m extremely grateful to be named the next American captain for the Solheim Cup and join a list of my heroes in the game. I’ve always believed that I represent more than myself on the LPGA Tour, and there is no greater honor than representing your country,” said Stanford. “I consider this the pinnacle of my career, and I’m looking forward to leading our players to the Netherlands in 2026.

“Angela Stanford will certainly be a wonderful captain for the U.S. Team at the 2026 Solheim Cup,” said Interim LPGA Commissioner Liz Moore. “Angela has always been a spark on and off the course, a true leader and a dedicated partner to her teammates. It’s now her time to take the helm of the U.S. Team, and I have no doubt that she will lead her squad to a successful week in the Netherlands.”

Stanford retired in 2024 after a 23-year LPGA Tour career. She has seven LPGA Tour victories, earning her first major title at the 2018 Amundi Evian Championship in her 18th season on Tour. Stanford has also won the 2023 and 2024 Senior LPGA Championships.

She competed in 98 consecutive major championships from 2002 to 2024, second only to Jack Nicklaus for consecutive majors played in professional golf.

Stanford has competed in six Solheim Cups, representing the USA in 2003, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2013 and 2015. In 2015, Stanford earned the winning point for the U.S. Team with her 2-and-1 victory over Suzann Pettersen. She then served as an assistant captain in 2021 under Captain Pat Hurst, and again in 2023 and 2024 under Captain Stacy Lewis.

Prior to joining the LPGA Tour, Stanford was a four-year All-American at Texas Christian University, where she won nine collegiate tournaments. She is a 2000 TCU graduate with a degree in Speech Communications and is enshrined in the Texas Golf Hall of Fame and the TCU Athletics Hall of Fame.

Off the course, Stanford runs the Angela Stanford Foundation, which provides scholarships to kids in her native Texas whose families have fallen victim to breast cancer. Stanford works in honor of her mother, Nan, who battled the disease for 13 years before her death in 2022.

Information on ticket options and prices for the 2026 Solheim Cup is available at www.solheimcup2026.golf. Anna Nordqvist was recently announced as captain for the 2026 European Solheim Cup Team.