Rory demonstrates the value of resilience

The final round of the 2025 Masters was great theater Sunday afternoon, and it also left viewers with some valuable life lessons about resiliency.

This was Rory McIlroy’s 11th try at becoming the sixth golfer in history to claim the career Grand Slam. He went 11 years without winning a major tournament, knowing the Masters green jacket was all that he needed to join Tiger Woods, Jack Nicklaus, Gary Player, Ben Hogan and Gene Sarazen as winners of golf’s four professional majors.

What started to take place Sunday after McIlroy seemingly had a comfortable four-shot lead reminded many viewers of 2011, when he lost a four-shot lead on the final day with a 7-over par 43 on the back nine.

I’ve covered a lot of golf over the years, including Creston’s boys state championship in the rain at the Ames Golf & Country Club in 2013. I’ve seen a lot of great golfers wrestle with the mental demons in this sport after an errant shot. The best of the best know how to dismiss it and pour their concentration into making a great shot on the next hole.

The ones who can’t harness their emotions extend the struggle. Personally, I’ve never played a sport that’s more challenging mentally, because if you screw up, you have several minutes to stew about it before getting to the ball and addressing your next shot. If it’s still on your mind during your next backswing, you’re caught in a death spiral.

Watching Rory successfully deal with those demons was great entertainment. And, not a bad reminder for athletes in any sport. Or, simply for folks who have to deal with disappointment at work and figure out a way to get things going in a positive direction.

Early in the day Sunday, we thought it was going to be a two-man horse race to the finish between Rory and Bryson DeChambeau, who beat McIlroy at Pinehurst last June. DeChambeau moved into the lead Sunday after two holes when Rory opened with a double bogey.

DeChambeau fell off the pace with two shots into the water and a pair of three-putts on the back nine, closing with a 3-over par 75.

Meanwhile, Justin Rose was charging into contention just as Rory’s game got shaky. Rose, who lost to Sergio Garcia in a Masters playoff in 2017, forced another playoff Sunday with a 20-foot birdie putt to finish his 6-under 66 final round. Rose and Ben Hogan are the only players in history to lose twice in playoffs at Augusta National.

Rory lost a four-shot lead on the back nine in a matter of three holes. One came inexplicably on an 80-yard wedge shot that landed in a tributary of Rae’s Creek on the par-5 13th hole.

Somehow, he righted himself and birdied two consecutive holes to go to the 18th tee box with a one-shot lead.

But, it wouldn’t be as simple as playing conservative and getting the par to finally snare the green jacket.

His wedge shot on 18 landed in a bunker right of the green and he ended up missing a 5-foot par putt to finish with a 1-over 73. Masters viewers were going to get more golf as he and Rose each finished at 11-under 277.

On the first playoff hole, with the last errant wedge shot fresh in his mind, Rory followed one of his classic booming drives with a wedge that just barely bounced onto the top shelf of the 18th green, allowing the ball to trickle down to within 3 feet of the cup.

Rose wasn’t quite as accurate, and missed his 15-foot birdie putt. Rory took his time, even backing off once to be sure, and then directed the ball straight into the cup for his winning birdie.

McIlroy became the first Masters winner to finish a tournament with four double bogeys — two in the first round as he fell seven shots off the pace, and two more in the thrilling final round.

In finally getting that monkey off his back, Rory taught us all to rise up from disappointments, time and again. With enough persistence and mental toughness, you just might achieve your goals.You have to dare yourself to do something great. Mediocre won’t get it done in those moments.

Rory could have crumbled to the mounting pressure at least twice Sunday, but he wouldn’t allow himself to surrender. That made it even more fulfilling, with a heavy dose of drama for the viewers.

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Email: malachy.lp@gmail.com

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