Tiger Woods welcomed Rory McIlroy to golf's most exclusive club after his dramatic victory in the 89th Masters.
McIlroy defeated Justin Rose on the first hole of a play-off at Augusta National to join 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 shown through, and now you're a part of history. Proud of you!"
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 the 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 (McIlroy's wife) 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."
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
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."
A disappointed Rose has now lost the last two play-offs in the Masters after being beaten by Sergio Garcia in 2017.
Asked what he said to McIlroy as they embraced on the green, Rose added: "I just said, listen, this is a historic moment in golf, isn't it, someone who achieves the career grand slam.
"I just said it was pretty cool to be able to share that moment with him. Obviously I wanted to be the bad guy today, but still, it's a momentous occasion for the game of golf."
Meanwhile Bryson DeChambeau revealed that McIlroy did not speak to him at all during the final round of the Masters.
Asked after slipping to a tie for fifth following a closing 73 how McIlroy was feeling as he signed his scorecard, DeChambeau said: "No idea. Didn't talk to me once all day."
Pressed by another reporter on whether he had tried to initiate conversation during the round, DeChambeau added: "He wouldn't talk to me."
Despite the lack of conversation, DeChambeau said he felt bad for McIlroy when the County Down man hit his approach to the 13th into Rae's Creek to run up a double bogey.
"I wanted to cry for him," he said. "I mean, as a professional, you just know to hit it in the middle of the green, and I can't believe he went for it, or must have just flared it.
"But I've hit bad shots in my career, too, and it happens. When you're trying to win a major championship, especially out here, Sunday of Augusta, the Masters, you have to just do it and get the job done and do it right.
"There were times where it looked like he had full control and at times where it's like, what's going on? Kind of looked like one of my rounds, actually."
Former Ryder Cup captain Paul McGinley has backed a "resilient" Rory McIlroy to win more major titles following his dramatic triumph.
"I think it’s a different Rory. I think it’s an evolution of Rory," McGinley said on Golf Channel.
"There is mental resilience there that might not have been there. He’s got strategies, he digs deep, and he can win when he’s not right on it. He’s on a path to maybe win more.
"Now that he’s climbed Everest, does he lose a little bit? When you reach something you’ve desired so much, you kind of soften, but I don’t think so. I think he’s going to keep going.
"I’ve said if he’ll win one major, he’ll win three or four. I don’t think he’s done winning majors this year. He’s got some great chances to add to it."
