Rory McIlroy won The Masters in the most Rory McIlroy way possible
Rory McIlroy won The Masters in a way that only Rory McIlroy could.
The man fell to his knees.
A decade and change evaporated. It was finally done. For all intents and purposes, Frodo had finally delivered the ring to Mordor.
In the famed Lord of the Rings story, Frodo is the chosen one who must bear an enormous burden for the common good. It is his sacrifice that must be made. Through the power of friendship, joy, love and faith he and his are able to triumph and good outlasts evil.
That may not be exactly how Rory McIlroy won The Masters and in the process joined the most rarified air that golf has to offer by way of the Career Grand Slam Club, but the way he did it was unique and enthralling. Simply put, Rory won the Masters in a way that only Rory could.
Consider that when Sunday began Rory took a 2-shot lead into battle. It was a small line of defense as he embarked upon the most treacherous round of his golfing life, akin to the Phial of Galadriel that Frodo is given early in his own quest.
Rory quickly lost his lead and then turned it back in his favor. As the brilliant Jack Milko outlined... it was a rollercoaster of a day where it looked like he was going to walk into history, have a severe collapse, dominate the field on his way to immortality and suffer a loss that was beyond the comprehension levels of devastation (even for McIlroy at Augusta) at different points on the ride.
At times Rory looked like the legendary golfer that he has been for some time but that his Grand Slam accolade now solidifies forever. His approach shots on 15 and 17 when fate was hanging in the balance were the types of shots that normal people have maybe twice in their lifetime.
But similarly Rory was flaming out and leaking oil. He got lucky on 11, but he completely imploded on 13. Walking up 18 with a chance to deliver the ring there he went into the sand on his approach and could not get up and down. He opened the door for Justin Rose to take his moment, to take his ring and most importantly to take his green jacket.
And then the brilliant Rory showed up once more. It feels lost in the shuffle and chaos of the madness, but his approach on 18 on the lone playoff hole was absolutely masterful. He was Rory McIlroy in that moment and became Rory McIlroy when he sunk the putt.
The thing about this all is that he was Rory McIlroy throughout the entire thing. His style of golf as a decade of failure tried to extend its shadow over him was true to himself. Rory would not bowl with the gutter lanes up if all he had to do was knock down one pin. He is built to play with passion and sometimes, very often on Sunday, that can be a little messy.
It is easy to say now that he has an official Champions Locker at Augusta, but it was perfect if we are being honest with ourselves. We have come too far on this collective journey, the one we shared with Rory which is why so many people were rooting for him, for it to have ended with the tournament well in hand as he finished his 72nd.
If you are unfamiliar with Frodo and the story of LOTR, he is a hobbit and is tasked with essentially saving the entire world. He is as lowly of a creature as can be asked to do this. He is no knight in shining armor, but he is the right person for the task.
Rory is a knight in shining armor in many senses but his points of defense have been neutralized so often and on so many occasions, particularly at these hallowed grounds. It seemed that for him to finally come out on top he actually had to remove them all and play with the level of vulnerability that so many people have come to love about him. It is fitting that his round saw him bleed and get dirty, so to speak, and that he did not just stand on top throughout it all. It was done in true Rory McIlroy fashion in general, but also in the Rory McIlroy fashion of achieving this milestone specifically.
For the most part around here at SB Nation my job is talk about the Dallas Cowboys and connect anything and everything that I can to them. Consider that I already did this with Rory’s Masters victory.
Nowadays people think of the Cowboys in certain ways, mostly commercial and from an entertainment perspective, but the truth is that they are on that same journey in their own respective way. Like Rory, if and when they ever achieve their sport’s ultimate goal it will likely require the sacrifice of vulnerability. That is sport. Heck, that is life.
I’m not sure that when I had imagined Rory winning the Masters that I ever saw it like it actually unfolded, but this is one of those things where I am mad at myself for not seeing the obvious truth staring me right in the face.
Rory McIlroy won on Sunday in a way that only he could have. It was epic, crazy, beautiful, chaotic and I was on the edge of my seat the entire time. I still am and it has been over for some time.
What a gift.