I wondered if it would ever be my time - McIlroy

Rory McIlroy says he had "started to wonder" if he would ever onshore nan Masters earlier yet claiming nan Green Jacket successful a nervy finale connected Sunday.

The 35-year-old from Northern Ireland regrouped from missing a putt which would person secured triumph connected nan 18th to hit England's Justin Rose successful a sudden-death play-off.

In doing so, McIlroy became only nan sixth man to triumph nan profession Grand Slam of Masters, Open Championship, US Open and US PGA Championship titles.

The long-awaited triumph astatine Augusta National came almost 11 years aft he won nan 4th awesome of his profession astatine nan 2014 US PGA.

"I started to wonderment if it would ever beryllium my time," said McIlroy, who changeable a one-over 73 connected nan last time to necktie pinch Rose connected 11 under.

"The past 10 years [I've been] coming pinch nan load of nan Grand Slam connected my shoulders and trying to execute that.

"I americium truthful proud to beryllium capable to telephone myself a Masters champion.

"It's been very difficult. And not conscionable astir winning my adjacent major, but nan profession Grand Slam."

McIlroy's travails person been an yearly talking constituent coming into nan iconic tourney which takes spot each April and is nan first of nan year's majors.

"What are we each going to talk astir adjacent year?" McIlroy, pinch a beaming grin connected his face, asked nan media aft his victory.

"It's a dream travel true. I person dreamt astir that infinitesimal for arsenic agelong arsenic I tin remember.

"Watching Tiger Woods successful 1997, and past winning his first Green Jacket, I deliberation that inspired truthful galore of my procreation to want to emulate what he did."

English seasoned Rose, who was besides aiming for his Masters victory, courageously fought backmost to unit nan play-off pinch a final-round 66.

He had immoderate bully words for his long-time friend McIlroy, earlier revealing what he told nan caller Masters champion connected nan 18th green.

"I conscionable said, listen, this is simply a historical infinitesimal successful golf, isn't it, personification who achieves nan profession Grand Slam," said Rose.

"I said it was beautiful cool to beryllium capable to stock that infinitesimal pinch him.

"Obviously I wanted to beryllium nan bad guy, but still, it's a momentous juncture for nan crippled of golf."

McIlro was speedy to praise nan domiciled his caddie and friend Harry Diamond played successful nan victory, fixed nan disapproval he often faces.

Diamond, who became Mcilroy’s caddie aft JP Fitzgerald was fto spell successful 2017, has been regularly condemned by fans and play professionals for being excessively quiet astatine cardinal times.

But McIlroy said: “I’ve known Harry since I was 7 years old.

"I met him connected nan putting greenish astatine Holywood Golf Club. We've had truthful galore bully times together. He's been for illustration a large relative to maine nan full measurement done my life.

"To beryllium capable to stock this pinch him aft each nan adjacent calls that we've had, each nan (nonsense) that he's had to return from group that don't cognize thing astir nan game, yeah, this 1 is conscionable arsenic overmuch his arsenic it is mine.

"He's a monolithic portion of what I do, and I couldn't deliberation of anyone amended to stock it pinch than him.”

McIlroy pointed retired nan important domiciled Diamond played successful steadying his nerves earlier nan play-off.

"Harry and I were stepping to nan play cart to bring america backmost to nan 18th tee, and he said to me, 'Well pal, we would person taken this connected Monday morning," said McIlroy.

"I'm like, 'Yeah, perfectly we would have.' That was an easy reset.

"I conscionable kept telling myself, conscionable make nan aforesaid plaything you made successful regulation. I deed a awesome thrust up there, and nan remainder is history."

Tiger Woods was among nan first players to station congratulations to his friend.

"Welcome to nan nine @McIlroyRory. Completing nan Grand Slam astatine Augusta is thing special. Your determination during this round, and this full travel has shown through, and now you're a portion of history. Proud of you," nan 15-time awesome champion, who completed his Grand Slam successful 2000, wrote connected X.

Jack Nicklaus, victor of a grounds 18 fields and six Masters titles was nan 4th man to complete nan Slam, successful 1966.

The 85-year-old said connected America's CBS: "I'm truthful happy for him. It will return nan world disconnected his shoulders and you're now going to spot a batch much of really bully play retired of Rory McIlroy."

And Gary Player, astatine 89 nan oldest surviving personnel of nan now six-strong Grand Slam club, wrote connected X: "We are proud to adhd Rory to our exclusive nine and nary uncertainty he has group nan modular for his era.

"It was 11 years agone erstwhile Rory first started nan last limb of his profession Grand Slam journey. And passim this time, he's carried himself pinch class, led pinch principle, and played pinch passion. For him to yet don nan Green Jacket is simply a infinitesimal to beryllium celebrated by fans astir nan world."

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

"He mightiness not person wanted to opportunity this but it's genuinely been everything for him complete nan past 10 years."

And connected X, Ireland's 2019 Open champion wrote: "He ever said to maine he'd discontinue a happy man if he won nan Green Jacket."

England's Tommy Fleetwood said it was "a very Rory McIlroy measurement of doing it" and cipher could "have written a amended script", adding: "I couldn't beryllium happier for him. He's astatine nan apical of his crippled and he's achieved thing incredible."