Before Rory McIlroy added a green jacket to his collection in April, he thought winning the Masters guaranteed he’d wear the iconic garment on a regular basis.
The Northern Irish golfer, who took four months following his playoff win at Augusta National, admitted on Tuesday, just before the Tour Championship, that he felt “reluctant to wear” it.
“It’s not like I’m wearing it all the time. It hangs in my wardrobe, where I see it every day. If I had always won a Masters, I wouldn’t have done that,” McIlroy expressed, as reported by the Associated Press.
At 36 years old, McIlroy had not secured a major win in 11 years prior to his victory at Augusta in April.
After his win, he graciously handed over the jacket to 2024 Masters Champion Scotty Scheffler, who is pursuing a career grand slam.
“There was a time in my career when I wasn’t sure I would wear this beautiful jacket,” McIlroy recalled following the final round. “I was nervous. That was one of the hardest days I’ve ever experienced on a golf course.”
McIlroy made it to the playoffs after a missed putt on the Par-4 18th hole, managing to redeem himself with a birdie shortly after.
He concluded the tournament at 11 under par.
“A lot of emotions overflowed on that 18th green,” McIlroy reflected. “It’s been almost 11 years—not just since my last major victory, but also to join a select group of five players who have completed a career grand slam, while witnessing many peers earn their green jackets in the meantime.”
This win places McIlroy in an elite circle alongside legends like Jack Nicklaus, Tiger Woods, Gary Player, Ben Hogan, and Gene Sarazen.
Although the 2026 Masters is still some time away, McIlroy is eager to don the Green Jacket again for his title defense.
“Next time I’m there, I’ll walk into the Champions locker room wearing my green jacket and truly feel like I belong,” he shared.
But first, McIlroy is set to compete at the Tour Championship, which kicked off on Thursday at East Lake Golf Course in Atlanta. The winner will take home a prize of $10 million.
