Rory McIlroy recently spoke about feeling a bit overwhelmed by the green jacket he won at the 2025 Masters, where he achieved his career Grand Slam. This reflection came just seven months after his historic win.
In a recent chat during CNBC’s Council Forum, he mentioned how he carried the iconic jacket while traveling for the DP World Tour. When his wife, Erica Stoll, teased him about wearing it too frequently, he jokingly told her to “hit me.”
“I was in India a few weeks back, then spent two weeks in the Middle East. Everywhere I go, people are excited to see the green jacket,” McIlroy explained. “So here I am, bringing this jacket along, but sometimes, I just don’t feel like wearing it. I felt a bit grumpy about having to wear it in Abu Dhabi.”
Despite his joking complaints, he later acknowledged how special it is to wear the jacket he had dreamed of since childhood. “Honestly, if I ever complain about this again, Erica might just hit me because I’ve wanted this my entire life,” he said.
McIlroy had his family—his wife and daughter—supporting him during that monumental moment at Augusta National, where he secured his fifth career Grand Slam.
The 36-year-old golfer emerged victorious over Justin Rose in a nail-biting playoff after both ended the regular rounds at 11-under.
This achievement made him the sixth golfer to claim all four major titles, something that hadn’t been done since Tiger Woods in 2000.
Reflecting on his journey, McIlroy said he had been competing at Augusta with the thought of the Grand Slam weighing on him for about a decade. “After 17 trips here, I began to wonder if I’d ever get my chance,” he shared during a CBS interview. “For the last ten years, I’ve felt the pressure of trying to achieve this Grand Slam.”
He concluded, “As for next year’s Masters, I can only say I’m honored and thrilled to be a Masters Champion.”
Interestingly, Erica Stoll also garnered attention during the 2025 Ryder Cup for her mishap with a rowdy spectator, who threw a drink at her amidst the excitement at Bethpage Black. Rory praised her strength in enduring the tough moments of the competition while helping Team Europe secure a win against Team USA, 15-13.
