RORY McIlroy ended his Masters jinx after pipping Justin Rose in a play-off – after threatening to copy his nightmare 2011 slump.
McIlroy once again blew a four-shot final-day lead, this time to Rose and, briefly, Ludvig Aberg.
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A stunning 17th hole birdie then seemed sure to clinch his first Green Jacket – but he bogeyed the last when he ruined a superb bunker shot by missing a four-foot putt.
But McIlory then birdied the first extra hole to pip Rose.
The Northern Irish hero was hoping to become only the sixth player to win all four majors – 11 years after he picked up the last two of his four Slam titles.
McIlroy infamously blew a four-shot, last-day advantage at Augusta 14 years ago – misfiring so badly that he recorded an 80 and a finish of joint 15th.
And he appeared to be coasting on Sunday night – until a double bogey at the 13th just as Rose was picking up a 16th-hole birdie.
McIlroy blew a fine approach shot by somehow sending his next into the water. He then missed a putt he’d expect to down nine times out of then – and suddenly it meant he’d carded a costly seven.
His bogey at the next hole put Rose in top before the Englishman bogeyed the 17th – leaving Ludvig Aberg level with the pair on 10-under.
But after looking as if he was tightening up, McIlroy conjured one of the drives of the day to set up an eagle bid.
He blew that highly gettable putt – but still went back on top with a birdie.
However, Rose responded with a brilliant birdie putt on the 18th to complete his 66 and close level on 11-under.
With Aberg dropping to nine-under, it left McIlroy with two holes in which to find a birdie to nick victory.
He did just that – but incredibly it wasn’t enough.
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