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Rory McIlroy’s daughter Poppy struggled to hid her embarrassment after her Masters champion dad’s cringe-inducing victory speech that followed his latest Augusta triumph.
After the drama of last year’s finale and the fulfilment on a lifelong ambition to complete the career Grand Slam, McIlroy cut a far more relaxed figure this time around even if the eventual margin of victory was only slightly more comfortable.
Even a wayward drive on the 72nd hole wasn’t enough to prevent McIlroy from becoming only the fourth man in history to defend the Masters and seal a one-shot win over the world No.1 Scottie Scheffler.
By his own admission, McIlroy completed the bulk of his defence over the course of the opening two rounds when he opened up a record six stroke advantage over the field.
Scheffler, along with the likes of Justin Rose, Cameron Young and Sam Burns mounted challenges of sorts, but after he recaptured the lead following a shaky start, MIlroy displayed an air of certainty that suggested victory was all but inevitable.
Another triumph at a venue that he is beginning to call his home tasted all the sweeter given the presence of his parents, Rosie and Gerry, who were absent from the emotional scenes that greeted last year’s play-off win over Rose.
McIlroy’s wife Erica Stoll and daughter were also able to join in the celebrations and it was Poppy who the Northern Irishman embraced first after sinking the winning putt.
The five-year-old’s obvious pride in her father’s achievements turned to despair shortly afterwards, however, when McIlroy revealed the availability of unlimited ice cream had rendered this competition Poppy’s standout event on the calendar.
‘This has definitely turned into Poppy’s favourite week of the year,’ said McIlroy.
‘I don’t know if it’s because of the par-three tournament or it’s the all you can eat ice cream in the Player Services building…’
Later, McIlroy revealed why it meant so much to him to have his family watching on from such close proximity.
‘I caught myself on the golf course a couple of times thinking about them and I was like ‘no, not yet, not yet’,’ he said.
‘It’s really cool to have them here. They missed it last year and the first thing I wanted to do was fly home to see them because I obviously wouldn’t be sitting up here if it wasn’t for them.
‘I had to sort of convince them to come this year because they thought the reason I won last year was because they weren’t here.
‘When the ball trickled by [on the 18th] and I marked it there from two inches I just looked at the back of the green because I saw my mum and dad and Erica and Poppy and I was just like ‘I can’t believe I’ve just done it again’.
‘I’m glad we proved that wrong, so they can keep coming as long as they want.’
Sir Nick Faldo, meanwhile hailed an ‘incredible McIlroy after the Northern Irishman matched his achievement of successfully defending his Masters title.
The world No.2 also equalled Faldo’s major haul of six and looks set to surpass it and become the most successful European of the modern era.
‘All credit to him. Incredible. He’s got another major to his name,’ Faldo told Sky Sports. ‘All he needs now is to win another US Open and another Open Championship and then he’ll be a two-time grand slam champion.
‘That’s his goal. To get there along with the likes of Jack (Nicklaus) and Tiger (Woods). He’s unique. Rory is the only one out of those guys to go 11 years between wins, and then he’s added another one.’
Two-time Ryder Cup-winning captain Luke Donald was in no doubt about McIlroy’s standing in the game.
‘Tying Seve with 2 green jackets will mean a lot to Rory. He is undoubtedly the best European golfer of all time now. Congratulations,’ he wrote on X.
Paul McGinley, himself a Ryder Cup-winning captain and close friend of McIlroy, told Sky Sports: ‘McIlroy wants to be known as the best European of all time.
‘As much as many of us might think that already, he still didn’t have as many major championships as Nick Faldo, nor Harry Vardon. Even though he’s caught Nick now with six, he’s still got Harry Vardon (seven) to catch.
‘There’s always another level, and I think Rory has reset his goals in that regard.’
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