Hours of unbearable sporting agony gave way to scenes of unbridled joy as crowds at Rory McIlroy's home club in Co Down celebrated his dramatic Masters victory.
After a night when members at Holywood Golf Club endured an emotional rollercoaster like no other, the clubhouse erupted as the local hero sank his birdie putt at the first play-off hole at Augusta National to finally capture a long sought green jacket and enter golfing immortality as a winner of the career grand slam of major titles.
There were tears and cheers as club stalwarts embraced, while junior members who dream of emulating their hometown hero chanted McIlroy's name.
His win was described as "beyond epic" by locals, who said that Holywood is "gonna be rocking for the rest of the week".
The celebrations were a marked contrast to the sombre mood inside the club earlier in the night during the agonising moments of McIlroy's final round when he looked to have blown his chances of glory.
"It was so well deserved and we're all just so proud, we're just so made up for him."
Club captain Trevor Heaven said he had a feeling that 2025 was going to be McIlroy's year.
"We're so proud - this is immense for Holywood Golf Club," he said.
"When I took on the captain role I got my green jacket, and I always said, 'if I get my green jacket, Rory will come after me'."
Club president Tony Denvir said many people could not watch the final moments, but that the ending was "unreal".
Speaking on RTÉ's Morning Ireland, he described McIlroy as a normal guy who has put Holywood on the map.
"He's just a phenomenon," he added.
"He's fantastic with the young guys, gives them a lot of support. I'm sure it's great for them, looking up to the best player in in the world, certainly at the minute, maybe, only second best to Tiger of all time, in my opinion. But then for the for the youngsters of Hollywood golf club, they look up to Rory McIlroy must be immense for them."
Former club captain Stephen Doherty described the win as "an emotional rollercoaster".
He recalled watching McIlroy at a very young age practicing his putting with plastic golf clubs.
"There was something special early on, his coach, Michael Bannon, asked the club to let him in. I think he was nine years of age, whereas the cut off limit then was 11 years of age. But they asked. Michael sent a letter in saying this kid was exceptional and it turned out he was right. He was fantastic."
Mr Doherty said he hopes the club will get a replica of the trophy "because we already have the PGA Trophy. We've got the Open trophy and we also have the Claret Jug on show in the clubhouse and people from all over the world come up and they get their pictures taken with these trophies."
"So, I'd be absolutely delighted to get a sort of a replica now of the Masters Trophy as well."
Mr Doherty said it has been hard for McIlroy to get the win at the Masters and the last 11 years have just dragged on for him.
Former lady captain Paula Denvir said she kept faith that Holywood's most famous son would prevail in the end.
"It was so well deserved and we're all just so proud, we're just so made up for him," she said.
"He just deserved this so much. There were tears of joy all over the place tonight and there was stunned silence too. Everybody is in bits. We're so delighted for him. It was brilliant.
"I'd every confidence in him, I don't know what it was about this year, I just thought 'he'll do this, this was it'. And I'm really glad he proved me right. I'm so delighted.
"For Holywood this is unbelievable. He's always been there, he's always been an ambassador, he's always been a supporter of the club. He has supported everything, he's supported charities, my charity last year - The Friends of the Cancer Centre.
"He's just an unbelievable ambassador for everywhere - for Holywood, for Northern Ireland, for Ireland, just across the board. And everybody should be just so proud."
Ms Denvir, who is married to club president Tony, joked that unlike her, he had the foresight to book a day off on Monday in anticipation of a draining Sunday night.
"It's incredible," said Mr Denvir.
"It's hard to put into words to be quite honest with you, and it's such a great achievement. Yeah, it's taken a wee while to do it. We all thought he was going to do it many years ago. It's taken a wee while, but he's got there in the end.
"And it's just absolutely unbelievable. For the whole country and for the game of golf in Northern Ireland - it's just fantastic."
