I wondered if it would ever be my time - McIlroy

Rory McIlroy says he had "started to wonder" if he would ever land the Masters before finally claiming the Green Jacket in a nervy finale on Sunday.

The 35-year-old from Northern Ireland regrouped from missing a putt which would have secured victory on the 18th to beat England's Justin Rose in a sudden-death play-off.

In doing so, McIlroy became only the sixth man to win the career Grand Slam of Masters, Open Championship, US Open and US PGA Championship titles.

The long-awaited triumph at Augusta National came almost 11 years after he won the fourth major of his career at the 2014 US PGA.

"I started to wonder if it would ever be my time," said McIlroy, who shot a one-over 73 on the final day to tie with Rose on 11 under.

"The past 10 years [I've been] coming with the burden of the Grand Slam on my shoulders and trying to achieve that.

"I am so proud to be able to call myself a Masters champion.

"It's been very difficult. And not just about winning my next major, but the career Grand Slam."

McIlroy's travails have been an annual talking point coming into the iconic tournament which takes place every April and is the first of the year's majors.

"What are we all going to talk about next year?" McIlroy, with a beaming smile on his face, asked the media after his victory.

"It's a dream come true. I have dreamt about that moment for as long as I can remember.

"Watching Tiger Woods in 1997, and then winning his first Green Jacket, I think that inspired so many of my generation to want to emulate what he did."

English veteran Rose, who was also aiming for his Masters victory, courageously fought back to force the play-off with a final-round 66.

He had some nice words for his long-time friend McIlroy, before revealing what he told the new Masters champion on the 18th green.

"I just said, listen, this is a historic moment in golf, isn't it, someone who achieves the career Grand Slam," said Rose.

"I said it was pretty cool to be able to share that moment with him.

"Obviously I wanted to be the bad guy, but still, it's a momentous occasion for the game of golf."

Tiger Woods was among the first players to post congratulations to his friend.

"Welcome to the club @McIlroyRory. Completing the Grand Slam at Augusta is something special. Your determination during this round, and this entire journey has shown through, and now you're a part of history. Proud of you," the 15-time major champion, who completed his Grand Slam in 2000, wrote on X.

Jack Nicklaus, winner of a record 18 majors and six Masters titles was the fourth man to complete the Slam, in 1966.

The 85-year-old said on America's CBS: "I'm so happy for him. It will take the world off his shoulders and you're now going to see a lot more of really good golf out of Rory McIlroy."

And Gary Player, at 89 the oldest living member of the now six-strong Grand Slam club, wrote on X: "We are proud to add Rory to our exclusive club and no doubt he has set the standard for his era.

"It was 11 years ago when Rory first started the final leg of his career Grand Slam journey. And throughout this time, he's carried himself with class, led with principle, and played with passion. For him to finally don the Green Jacket is a moment to be celebrated by fans around the world."

Meanwhile Ryder Cup team-mate Shane Lowry, who faded out of contention on Sunday with an 81, told BBC NI Sport: "It's huge for Irish golf. It's huge for everyone. I've had a really bad day but I'm delighted for him.

"He might not have wanted to say this but it's genuinely been everything for him over the past 10 years."

And on X, Ireland's 2019 Open champion wrote: "He always said to me he'd retire a happy man if he won the Green Jacket."

England's Tommy Fleetwood said it was "a very Rory McIlroy way of doing it" and nobody could "have written a better script", adding: "I couldn't be happier for him. He's at the top of his game and he's achieved something incredible."