It was an emotional day at Augusta National for Rory McIlroy on Sunday, April 13, which included a touching interaction between him and his competitor’s wife.
McIlroy, 35, emerged victorious at the 2025 Masters Tournament, defeating Justin Rose on the first sudden-death playoff hole after a frenetic round that saw McIlroy blow a four-stroke lead before recovering to complete the career grand slam.
Moments after walking off the 18th green, McIlroy stopped for a lengthy embrace with Rose’s wife, Kate Rose.
The hug, which lasted 13 seconds, was captured on camera and quickly spread all over social media. With their arms wrapped around each other, Kate could be heard telling McIlroy she was “really happy” for him.
Kate and Justin have been married since 2006 and share two children: son Leo, 16, and daughter Charlotte, 13.
McIlroy has been married to his wife, Erica Stoll, since 2017, though the couple briefly split last year after McIlroy filed for divorce in May 2024. The golfer later rescinded the divorce filing just one month later. McIlroy and Stoll share daughter Poppy, 4.
Justin and McIlroy have been friends for years, with the Irish-born McIlroy and Rose, who was born to English parents and moved to England from South Africa when he was 5, often competing together as teammates in the Ryder Cup.
After McIlroy’s victory on Sunday — which saw him become just the 6th golfer in history to win the Masters, British Open, U.S. Open and PGA Championship — Justin congratulated him on social media.
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“I gave it everything….,” Justin posted via X on Sunday evening. “Congratulations @McIlroyRory on winning the @TheMasters and completing the Grand Slam.. very cool sharing the green with you in that moment… Thank you Team 🌹 as always for all the support during the week… We go again 👊🏻.”
In an interview with CBS’ Amanda Balionis after the tournament, Rose said, “Obviously I wanted to be the bad guy today but still, it’s a momentous occasion for the game of golf.”
After finally winning his first Masters title, McIlroy called it “the best day of my golfing life.”
“This is my 17th time here, and I [had] started to wonder if it would ever be my time,” McIlroy told reporters. “What came out of me on the last green there in the playoff was at least 11 years, if not 14 years, of pent-up emotion.”
He added, “I got the job done.”
