Rory McIlroy becomes first golfer to accomplish historic feat after Masters win

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Rory McIlroy joined an esteemed club by retaining his Masters title.

The list of players to win back-to-back Masters is now Jack Nicklaus, Sir Nick Faldo, Tiger Woods, and Rory McIlroy. After the Northern Irishman became the sixth man to complete the Career Grand Slam last year, he continues to make history.

But while he joins a list of all-time greats with his second-straight Green Jacket, McIlroy stands alone after what he accomplished at Augusta this year.

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Rory McIlroy becomes first player to win multiple majors before and after 10-year break

McIlroy’s career is an odd one compared to the other greats of the game. He exploded onto the scene early in his career to win four major championships and was expected to challenge Tiger Woods’ major tally.

But after winning the 2014 PGA Championship, he went on an 11-year major championship drought, littered with close calls and heartbreak.

That was until last year, when McIlroy completed the Career Grand Slam at Augusta National, and now he has repeated that feat.

By doing so, McIlroy became the first player in golf’s history to win multiple majors, not win one for 10 years, then win multiple majors again.

There’s only been one player in history to win a single major, wait 10 years, then win multiple. That man was Julius Boros, who won the 1952 U.S. Open, then the 1962 U.S. Open and the 1968 PGA Championship.

This stat perfectly encapsulates what a bizarre career McIlroy has had. The only man capable of matching him with one more major win is Tiger Woods, who won the 2008 US Open then the 2019 Masters, but he looks highly unlikely to win another major.

McIlroy will likely hold this record for a long, long time.