Rory McIlroy Can't Stop the Tears as He Thanks His Parents Following His Historic Back-to-Back Masters Wins

Rory, Gerry and Rosie McIlroy
Credit: Hector Vivas/Getty; Andrew Redington/Getty

NEED TO KNOW

• Rory McIlroy credited his parents after winning the Masters on Sunday
• Rosie and Gerry McIlroy were not in attendance when their son won last year
• Rory admitted after he earned another green jacket that he was superstitious about his parents attending this year

Rory McIlroy got emotional when speaking about his parents after winning the Masters.

The golfer, who clinched a consecutive win at Augusta with a one-shot victory over Scottie Scheffler on Sunday, April 12, credited Gerry and Rosie McIlroy for their impact on his game — and his life.

“Mom and dad, I owe everything to you,” McIlroy, 36, said while addressing the crowd.

He added, as he briefly paused to wipe away tears: “You’re the most wonderful parents and if I could be half the parent as you were to me then I know I’ve done a good job, thank you.”

When McIlroy won last year’s tournament to finally obtain the elusive Grand Slam, Rosie and Gerry were not in attendance, according to ESPN.

This year, he admitted that he had mixed feelings about having them there in person as he aimed to defend his title.

Rory McIlroy
Credit: Matty Aylward/Augusta National/Getty

"Incredible," he said of having his parents there, while talking with Jim Nantz of CBS afterwards. "It was the second major win she’s been at... She was at the Open in 2014.”

He continued, "There’s a part of me that didn’t want them to come this year, because I thought if they didn’t come last year, maybe that was the reason. But I’m so glad they got to experience this today. We’re gonna have a great time tonight."

With his win, the Northern Irish golfer became only the fourth in the modern era to win back-to-back at the Masters, joining the company of Jack Nicklaus, Nick Faldo and Tiger Woods.

On Sunday, as he made things interesting hitting into the bunker on 18, McIlroy acknowledged that winning his fifth major was not easy — but that he was buoyed by the presence of his friends and family.

"I caught myself on the golf course a couple of times thinking about them, and I was like, 'No, not yet, not yet,' " McIlroy said.

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