x
Skip to main content
Golf Logo
InsideGolf Join Now  / Log In
Tour Confidential: Where does Rory McIlroy’s Masters win rank among the best ever?
SHARE
  • Share on Facebook
  • Share on Twitter
  • Share by Email
Golf Logo
  • News
    • Latest
      • News
      • Features
      • Shows
      • PGA Tour Schedule
    • Series
      • Tour Confidential
      • Monday Finish
      • Hot Mic
      • Rogers Report
    • Shows
      • The Scoop
      • Subpar
      • Seen & Heard
  • Instruction
    • Game Improvement
      • Driving
      • Approach Shots
      • Bunker Shots
      • Short Game
      • Putting
      • Rules
      • Fitness
    • Series
      • Top 100 Teachers
      • Rules Guy
      • The Etiquetteist
    • Shows
      • Warming Up
      • Play Smart
      • Short Game Chef
      • Pros Teaching Joes
  • Gear
    • Clubs
      • Drivers
      • Irons
      • Hybrids
      • Fairway Woods
      • Wedges
      • Putters
    • Other Gear
      • Balls
      • Shoes
      • Apparel
      • Golf Accessories
    • Series
      • ClubTest
      • Winner’s Bag
    • Shows
      • Fully Equipped
  • Travel & Lifestyle
    • Travel
      • Course Finder
      • Courses
      • Resorts
    • Lifestyle
      • Accessories
      • Celebrities
      • Food
      • Style
      • Betting Advice
    • Shows
      • Super Secrets
      • Destination Golf
  • Shop
    • Shop
      • Clubs
      • Shafts
      • Training Aids
      • Balls
      • Bags
      • Technology
      • Apparel
      • Accessories
      • Our Picks
      • Shop All
    • Collections
      • The GOLF Collection
      • The Birdie Juice Collection
      • The Fully Equipped Collection
      • Shop All
  • Newsletters
    • Sign Up for GOLF’s Newsletters
      • Hot Mic
      • Monday Finish
      • Play Smart
      • Our Picks
      • Top Stories
      • Sign Up for All
  • News
    • Latest News
    • Features
    • Shows
    • PGA Tour Schedule
  • Instruction
    • All Instruction
    • Driving
    • Approach Shots
    • Bunker Shots
    • Short Game
    • Putting
    • Rules
    • Fitness
  • Gear
    • All Gear
    • Drivers
    • Irons
    • Hybrids
    • Fairway Woods
    • Wedges
    • Putters
    • Balls
    • Shoes
    • Apparel
    • Golf Accessories
  • Travel & Lifestyle
    • All Travel
    • All Lifestyle
    • Course Finder
    • Courses
    • Resorts
    • Accessories
    • Celebrities
    • Food
    • Style
    • Betting Advice
  • Series
    • Tour Confidential
    • Monday Finish
    • Hot Mic
    • Rogers Report
    • Rules Guy
    • The Etiquetteist
    • ClubTest
    • Winner’s Bag
  • Shows
    • The Scoop
    • Subpar
    • Seen & Heard
    • Warming Up
    • Play Smart
    • Short Game Chef
    • Pros Teaching Joes
    • Fully Equipped
    • Super Secrets
    • Destination Golf
  • Shop
    • Clubs
    • Shafts
    • Training Aids
    • Balls
    • Bags
    • Technology
    • Apparel
    • Accessories
    • The GOLF Collection
    • The Birdie Juice Collection
    • The Fully Equipped Collection
  • Newsletters
    • Hot Mic
    • Monday Finish
    • Play Smart
    • Top Stories
    • Our Picks
    • Sign Up for All
InsideGolf Join Now  / Log In
InsideGolf

InsideGOLF: +$140 value for $39.99

Join Today
News

Tour Confidential: Where does Rory McIlroy’s Masters win rank among the best ever?

By: Zephyr Melton , Josh Schrock , Nick Piastowski April 20, 2025
  • Share on Facebook
  • Share on Twitter
  • Share by Email
Rory McIlroy

Rory McIlroy last Sunday after winning the Masters.

Getty Images

Check in every week for the unfiltered opinions of our writers and editors as they break down the hottest topics in the sport, and join the conversation by tweeting us at @golf_com. This week, we discuss where Rory McIlroy’s Masters win ranks among the best ever, and more.

1. Now that we’ve had a week to fully digest the 2025 Masters and Rory McIlroy’s first green jacket (and career Grand Slam), where would you rank it among some of the best Masters of all time?

Zephyr Melton, assistant editor (@zephyrmelton): I can reliably rank Masters only in my lifetime (since 1994), and in that time frame, I’d rank it top three, with 1997 and 2019 being the others. The excitement of Sunday, mixed with the historical implications, made it one of the best watches I’ve ever had. What a tournament.

Josh Schrock, assistant news editor (@Schrock_And_Awe): To me, it’s probably the best in my lifetime. Tiger’s win in 2019 was amazing just for the incredible feat of him becoming the Tiger Woods of old one last time at Augusta National, but the final round itself wasn’t as thrilling as what we witnessed last week. That’s because Tiger hit just fairways and the middle of greens while Rory oscillated between full flight and complete meltdown. The yo-yo nature of the final round, coupled with the grand slam and what would have been the worst devastation of Rory’s career, made it No. 1 on my list. I’ll go 2025, 2019 and 1997, with an honorable mention to 2004.

Nick Piastowski, senior editor (@nickpia): Whew, I’ve been thinking about this all week. Jack in ’86. Mize’s chip-in. Tiger’s first and last wins. There’ve been some outstanding ones. But what didn’t this Masters have? Tight leaderboard. Good leaderboard. Dramatic finish. Ecstatic and popular winner. Hard to beat, for sure. 

2. With his Masters title in his back pocket, a major drought snapped and that weight finally off his shoulders, what do you expect to see from McIlroy in the remaining three majors? Are you picking him as the early favorite to win any of the remaining three?

News
Rory McIlroy
On Rory McIlroy, and 25,000 or so reasons why his Masters win mattered
By: Nick Piastowski

Melton: When you’re hot, you’re hot. Golfers tend to win in bunches, and when that window is open, it’s critical to take advantage. I wouldn’t be surprised to see Rory in the hunt many more times this season, especially in the majors.

Schrock: With the career grand slam done and dusted, why not win all four? Next up is the PGA at Quail Hollow, a course McIlroy has dominated in his career. The Open is at Royal Portrush, where he owns the course record, and he has been one of the best U.S. Open players over the past four years — he just doesn’t have a win to show for it. I think he wins at least one more this year, especially with Scottie Scheffler and Xander Schauffele still searching post injury. 

Piastowski: Yes. I’m in. I’ve fallen victim to recency bias after like every major, but picking him to be the favorite for the next three doesn’t seem too outlandish. Schrock explains why above. But yeah, golf. Being the favorite is one thing. Winning is another. Shoot, folks were thinking the same of Scottie Scheffler as late as last December. 

3. Last week, Rory ended his major drought, and on Sunday at the RBC Heritage, Justin Thomas ended his winless slump, beating Andrew Novak in a playoff at Harbour Town to pick up his first win since the 2022 PGA Championship. Thomas reminded us of his firepower with his 61 Thursday; what had been holding him back during this winless stretch?

News
Justin Thomas celebrates his winning putt at the RBC Heritage.
Justin Thomas’ winless drought wasn’t easy. Neither was finally ending it
By: Josh Schrock

Melton: Golf is hard, and even the best in the world go through slumps. Watching superstars go through struggles reminds us how hard this game is, and gives us an even greater appreciation for those who win year in and year out. 

Schrock: I think Zephyr nailed it. Thomas won and won a lot from 2015 to 2022. Even the best modern pro golfers go in slumps, unless your name is Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson or Rory McIlroy. Thomas was inaccurate with the driver as he tooled his swing and then his normally reliable putter went away. It all seems to be back now, which is good news for the PGA Tour. The more stars at the peak of their powers, the better. Next up: Jordan Spieth?

Piastowski: Swing stuff. Expectation stuff. Other pros being better stuff. It happens. But then it snowballs, and that’s hard to shovel out of. But man, full-power JT is fun to watch. And yeah, his first PGA Championship win came at Quail Hollow. 

4. Wesley Bryan was suspended indefinitely by the PGA Tour for competing in LIV Golf’s “The Duels: Miami” event last month, Bryan confirmed to Ryan French of Monday Q Info. We also recently learned that YouTube creator Grant Horvat, who competed in the same event, received a sponsor’s invitation to the Barracuda Championship later this year. Any issues with the handling of either of these?

News
Wesley Bryan hits a tee shot at “The Duels: Miami," at Trump National Doral on April 3, 2025, in Doral, Fla.
PGA Tour pro suspended for playing in LIV Golf influencer event
By: Josh Berhow

Melton: The optics of suspending Wes right after offering Grant Horvat an exemption are … not good. But as a Tour member, Bryan should be held to a different standard than a content creator. If I’m being honest, I simply do not care about Youtube golfers and I’m a bit tired of talking about them. 

Schrock: I don’t understand why a conditional PGA Tour member like Wes Bryan is in these creator events to begin with. Why is a guy who was close to retaining his card last year battling Fat Perez and Rick Shiels? YouTube golf isn’t my thing. Bryan should probably be held to a different standard than Horvat. But it’s not a great look. I also don’t care. 

Piastowski: Man, I actually like YouTube golf. It’s fast, it’s digestible, it’s personable. OK, the question. Yeah, the optics are weird. Seeing the news of a suspension and an invitation almost at the same time isn’t great. For what it’s worth, I also think an exemption could have been made for Bryan — it wasn’t an actual LIV event and it was competing against nothing — but he also seemingly knew what he was getting into.  

5. The LPGA kicks off its major season with the Chevron Championship in the Woodlands, Texas, with Nelly Korda defending her title. What’s the main storyline we need to monitor?

News
nelly korda smiles during the final round of the 2024 chevron championship
Nelly Korda’s dominance continues, wins Chevron for 5th title in a row
By: Zephyr Melton

Melton: Can Jeeno Thitikul take the next step? She’s been among the most consistent golfers in the world over the past several years, but she’s yet to get it done in a major. I’d like to see her in the hunt come Sunday evening. 

Schrock: I was going to go with Rose Zhang but her recent WD due to a neck injury casts doubt on whether or not she’ll be able to tee it up. I’m going to go with Charley Hull. Hull is a star and is great for the women’s game, but it’s time for her to finally knock off a major championship. 

Piastowski: Can Nelly defend? She’s been mildly slow to start this year — no wins, but no missed cuts. A strong performance, of course, erases that. 

Latest In News

43 minutes ago

In 6 silent minutes, CBS delivered a Masters broadcast masterpiece

58 minutes ago

Zurich Classic Subpar picks: 2 teams to watch in New Orleans

3 hours ago

A year ago, she was panicked. Now, Lilia Vu is major threat again

7 hours ago

USGA, Oakmont investing $1 million into public golf, communities

Zephyr Melton

Golf.com Editor

Zephyr Melton is an assistant editor for GOLF.com where he spends his days blogging, producing and editing. Prior to joining the team at GOLF, he attended the University of Texas followed by stops with the Texas Golf Association, Team USA, the Green Bay Packers and the PGA Tour. He assists on all things instruction and covers amateur and women’s golf. He can be reached at zephyr_melton@golf.com.

Josh Schrock

Golf.com Editor

Josh Schrock is a writer and reporter for Golf.com. Before joining GOLF, Josh was the Chicago Bears insider for NBC Sports Chicago. He previously covered the 49ers and Warriors for NBC Sports Bay Area. A native Oregonian and UO alum, Josh spends his free time hiking with his wife and dog, thinking of how the Ducks will break his heart again, and trying to become semi-proficient at chipping. A true romantic for golf, Josh will never stop trying to break 90 and never lose faith that Rory McIlroy’s major drought will end (updated: he did it).

Nick Piastowski

Nick Piastowski

Golf.com Editor

Nick Piastowski is a Senior Editor at Golf.com and Golf Magazine. In his role, he is responsible for editing, writing and developing stories across the golf space. And when he’s not writing about ways to hit the golf ball farther and straighter, the Milwaukee native is probably playing the game, hitting the ball left, right and short, and drinking a cold beer to wash away his score. You can reach out to him about any of these topics — his stories, his game or his beers — at nick.piastowski@golf.com.

Related Articles

News
rory mcilroy hugs daughter poppy off the 18th green at augusta national

In 6 silent minutes, CBS delivered a Masters broadcast masterpiece

By: James Colgan
News
Lilia Vu hits a tee shot at the 2024 CME Group Tour Championship

A year ago, she was panicked. Now, Lilia Vu is major threat again

Balls
Rory McIlroy and Shane Lowry with their golf balls.

What golf ball will teams use at the Zurich? The defending champs have a loophole

By: Jack Hirsh
News
Nick Faldo shakes hands with Bryson DeChambeau prior to the 2019 Open Championship held on the Dunluce Links at Royal Portrush.

'It's bulls--t': Nick Faldo defends Bryson DeChambeau criticism

By: Kevin Cunningham
News
2025 Chevron Championship tee times: Nelly Korda plays a shot during the 2025 JM Eagle LA Championship.

2025 Chevron Championship tee times: Round 1 groupings for Thursday

By: Kevin Cunningham
News
champions dinner at chevron

At less fabled Champions Dinner, wowed guests and $4,000 caviar

By: Alan Bastable
Driving
justin thomas swings driver during the 2025 valspar championship

The secret behind Justin Thomas’ crazy clubhead speed

By: Zephyr Melton
News
LPGA pro Nelly Korda smiles at golf tournament

Why Nelly Korda is using a children's toy for her golf game

By: Sean Zak
News
Justin Thomas talks with Xander Schauffele after the first round of the 2024 PGA Championship.

Did Xander Schauffele fix Justin Thomas? Here's what Schauffele says

By: Josh Schrock
Sign up for GOLF's Newsletters
Get the latest news, the hottest instruction tips, new product releases, golf media insider reports and more delivered directly to your inbox. Choose your favorites now.
Sign Up
Categories
  • News
  • Instruction
  • Gear
  • Lifestyle
  • Travel
Services
  • Masthead
  • GOLF Media Kit
  • GOLF Magazine Customer Service
  • TERMS OF SERVICE
  • PRIVACY POLICY
  • Opt-out of Ads/Sharing
  • Your Privacy Choices
Social
  • facebook
  • x
  • instagram
  • youtube
Membership
InsideGOLF Logo
More than $140 Value for JUST $39.99

INCLUDES 12 SRIXON Z-STAR XV GOLF BALLS, 1 YR OF GOLF MAGAZINE, $20 FAIRWAY JOCKEY CREDIT - AND MUCH MORE!

LEARN MORE

© 2025 EB Golf Media LLC. An 8AM Golf Affiliated Brand. All Rights Reserved. All of our market picks are independently selected and curated by the editorial team. If you buy a linked product, GOLF.COM may earn a fee. Pricing may vary.

Go to mobile version