Rory McIlroy credits Tiger Woods as inspiration for Masters win

McIlroy was just eight years old when a young Woods decimated the 1997 Masters field to win by a record 12 strokes. Now, 28 years later, the Northern Irishman has finally earned his time in the Augusta Sunday sunshine.

He needed a playoff hole against the evergreen Justin Rose, but at the 17th attempt, McIlroy could finally celebrate a Masters victory.

"It's a dream come true, I have dreamt about that moment for as long as I can remember," admitted the now five-time major winner at the victory press conference.

"I mentioned it out in the prize ceremony, but watching Tiger here in 1997 do what he did, and then winning his first green jacket, I think that inspired so many of my generation to want to emulate what he did.

"It's the best day of my golfing life. And yeah, I'm very proud of myself. I'm proud of never giving up. I'm proud of how I kept coming back and dusting myself off and not letting the disappointments really get to me. Talking about that eternal optimist again. Yeah, very proud.

"There were points in my career where I didn't know if I would have this nice garment over my shoulders, but I didn't make it easy today. I certainly didn't make it easy. I was nervous. It was one of the toughest days I've ever had on the golf course. In a funny way, I feel like the double bogey at the first sort of settled my nerves."

Sunday's victory also etches McIlroy's name in the annals of golfing legend. He became just the fifth player ever to complete a career grand slam - to win all four major championships - in the game's history. The last person to achieve a career slam? Tiger Woods in 2000.  

"You know, trying to join a group of five players to do it, you know, watching a lot of my peers get green jackets in the process," reflected McIlroy.

"Yeah, it's been difficult, and I've tried to approach this tournament with the most positive attitude each and every time that I've shown up, and I think just the sort of cumulative experience that I've gained coming back here each and every year, I just I feel like I get a little more comfortable with the shot needed. I talked about it at the start of the week, but you know, there's talking about it and actually doing it.

"It was a heavy weight to carry, and thankfully now I don't have to carry it and it frees me up and I know I'm coming back here every year, which is lovely."