He is currently having his greatest season in 2025. He finished fifth at the Memorial in Houston. He won at Pebble Beach. He won the richest tournament purse on tour, the prestigious Players Championship, after a three-hole playoff. And now he has won the Masters after a one- hole playoff. Golfers will NEVER publicly admit that the most prized possession in their sport is a green jacket.
What was witnessed in McIlroy’s performance yesterday was the synopsis of his 17 plus years as a professional golfer. To be sure he has been successful but the ups and downs in the sport can be excruciating. On his final round he carded two double bogies. On the back nine he mishit his third shot on 13 that landed in the water. After yet another unbelievable approach shot, he missed a makable eagle putt on 15. He missed a more difficult, but makable, birdy putt on 16 and the very makable par putt on 18. But it wasn’t over. He had to call upon his hutzpah, courage and indominable character on the play-off hole. He hit a 125-yard approach shot, NOT at the pin, but to an undulation in the green behind the pin so the ball could roll ever so slowly and softly to within four feet of the cup. There was very little room for error. He had to be precise.
His collapse on the 18th green after yesterday’s victory was as real and sincere as it gets. His breakdown finally allowed him to not only release all the constrained angst he endured in yesterday’s victory round but the culmination of a 17 plus-year career that has denied one of the game’s greatest competitors its most prized possession. The lesson here for all of us is that we should never, never, NEVER GIVE-UP!!!!
The
old Coon Rapids dago has been watching sporting events for some 67 years and
only twice has he been moved to the deepest level of emotion. The first was the U.S. hockey team winning the1980
Olympic Gold Medal. The second occurred
yesterday.
https://www.espn.com/video/clip/_/id/44662602
Addendum: Dear Lord help me. I do love it so.
Do yourself a BIG favor and take some time to tour heaven on earth.
It’s incomparable beauty is best captured during the first 5:30 of the video.
You won’t regret it.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G97AdMLbfr4
