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Rory McIlroy wins Masters playoff to complete the career Grand Slam

Published

7 months ago

April 15, 2025

Rory McIlroy wins Masters playoff to complete the career Grand Slam

AUGUSTA, Ga. — The closer Rory McIlroy came to fulfilling his lifetime dream — winning the Masters — the more it kept slipping away. Sunday at Augusta National felt like his last 11 years in the majors, blunders mixed in with sheer brilliance.

A two-shot lead gone in two holes. A four-shot lead gone in three holes with a shocker of a mistake. A five-foot putt on the final hole to win narrowly missed.

And then McIlroy turned what could have been another major collapse into his grandest moment of all when he hit wedge to three feet for birdie in a sudden-death playoff against Justin Rose to become — finally — a Masters champion and take his place in golf history as the sixth player with the career Grand Slam.

“There were points in my career where I didn’t know if I would have this nice garment over my shoulders,” McIlroy said, that Masters green jacket looking like a perfect fit. “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.”

The reward was greater than he imagined, and it showed. He rapped in that final putt, raised both arms in the air and let the putter fall behind him. He covered his head, dropped to his knees, and before long his forehead was on the green as his chest heaved with emotion.

That was 11 years of pent-up emotion from his last major, when he began to carry the burden of getting the final leg of the Grand Slam. It was 14 years of remembering the time he wasted a four-shot lead with an 80 on the final day as a 21-year-old.

“I started to wonder if it would ever be my time,” he said.

The thought could have easily crossed his mind during the final round.

What could have been a coronation for McIlroy along the back nine turned into a heart-racing, lead-changing, jaw-dropping finish at golf’s greatest theater that ended with McIlroy sobbing with joy and disbelief.

It ended with more heartache for Rose, who lost to Sergio Garcia in a playoff in 2017 and forced this one with a clutch 20-foot birdie on the 18th hole for a 6-under 66. He wound up joining Ben Hogan as the only players to lose twice in playoffs at Augusta National.

“It’s the kind of putt you dream about as a kid, and to have it and hole it, it was a special feeling,” Rose said. “And unfortunately, the playoff, they always end so quickly. If you’re not the guy to hit the great shot or hole the great putt, it’s over. But not really anything I could have done more today.”

The joy on McIlroy’s face never left him from the time that putt dropped — on the green, in Butler Cabin when defending champion Scottie Scheffler first helped him into the green jacket, and during the trophy presentation on the 18th green.

“My dreams have been made today,” McIlroy said.

Moments later, speaking to 4-year-old daughter Poppy, he told her: “Never give up on your dreams. Never, ever give up on your dreams.”

This was shaping up as another horror show for McIlroy, who in 2011 lost a four-shot lead on the final day with a 43 on the back nine, a highlight reel that now can start collecting dust.

“I didn’t make it easy today,” McIlroy said.

Right when it looked as though he would throw away another major, McIlroy delivered two majestic shots when nothing less would do, two birdies that sent him to the 18th hole with a one-shot lead.

That still wasn’t enough. He hit a wedge into the bunker and wound up missing a 5-foot par putt for a 1-over 73 and the first Masters playoff in eight years.

Faced with more failure, McIlroy responded with another booming drive, and this wedge bounced onto the slope of the top shelf with enough spin to trickle down toward the hole, closer and closer, until it stopped 3 feet away.

And when Rose missed from 15 feet, McIlroy finally sealed it.

“I just think all week how I responded to setbacks, that’s what I’ll take from this week,” McIlroy said, though he could have been speaking for the last decade. “Couldn’t be more proud I myself for that and being able to back bounce when I needed to.”

McIlroy went 11 long years without any major, knowing the Masters green jacket was all that kept him from joining Tiger Woods, Jack Nicklaus, Gary Player, Ben Hogan and Gene Sarazen as the only winners of golf’s four professional majors.

Nicklaus and Player spoke on Thursday how they thought this was his time. Woods was among those to congratulate McIlroy and welcome him to the club.

So wild was this Sunday at Augusta National that McIlroy set a Masters record as the first champion to make four double bogeys — two in the first round that put him seven shots behind, two in the final round that turned this into a thriller.

U.S. Open champion Bryson DeChambeau, who beat McIlroy at Pinehurst No. 2 last June, had the lead after two holes when McIlroy opened with a double bogey. DeChambeau crashed out with a pair of three-putts and two shots into the water on the back nine, closing with a 75.

Ludvig Aberg, a runner-up in his Masters debut a year ago, suddenly had a share of the lead when McIlroy fell apart on the middle of the back nine. He missed a birdie putt from the fringe to take the lead, then finished bogey-triple bogey.

McIlroy and Rose finished at 11-under 277, two shots ahead of former Masters champion Patrick Reed (69). Scheffler, trying to win the Masters for the third time in four years, never got anything going this week and still shot 69 to finish fourth.

Rose had every reason to believe he threw away his chances on Saturday with a 75 that put him seven shots behind, and then two bogeys on the front nine. Even as he steadied himself, he was four shots back and running out of time.

He did his part in a 10-birdie round and that dynamic birdie putt to cap it off.

McIlroy did his part, too.

Nothing was more shocking than the 13th. McIlroy played it safe, leaving himself a big target from 82 yards away and a lob wedge. He missed his mark by some 20 yards, the ball disappearing into the tributary of Rae’s Creek and leading to double bogey.

Rose was on the par-3 16th and hit his tee shot to 4 feet for birdie, and suddenly they were tied. Then, McIlroy hit a weak drive to the right and was blocked by pines. He didn’t reach the green, didn’t make the par putt and no longer had the lead.

But he was resilient as ever — he’s been like that his entire career. Seemingly in trouble left of the 15th fairway, McIlroy hit 7-iron around the trees and onto the green to 6 feet.

He missed the eagle putt — the birdie still helped him regain a share of the lead. Two holes later, facing a semi-blind shot, he drilled 8-iron and chased after it, urging it to “Go! Go! Go! Go!” And it did, barely clearing the bunker and rolling out to 2 feet for birdie and a one-shot lead.

Turns out that wasn’t enough, either. He was 5 feet away from victory and badly missed the putt, leaving him more work to do — another chance to fail.

Not this time. The 35-year-old from Northern Ireland never wavered in what he came to Augusta National to do. He leaves with a green jacket.

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IWU Trio Sweeps CCIW Women’s Volleyball Weekly Honors

Published

18 minutes ago

November 4, 2025

Your Sports Nation

NAPERVILLE — Illinois Wesleyan swept Monday’s College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin (CCIW) Women’s Volleyball Student-Athlete of the Week awards after a perfect 3-0 stretch that included two top-five victories and clinched the program’s first-ever back-to-back CCIW regular-season championships.

Taylor French was named Hitter of the Week, Sophia Feeney earned Setter of the Week honors, and Kannyn Boyd collected Defensive Student-Athlete of the Week recognition as the Titans capped a big week with wins over #3 Wisconsin-Oshkosh and #5 Juniata.

Hitter: Taylor French, Illinois Wesleyan
French powered Illinois Wesleyan to a 3-0 week, highlighted by two top-five wins and the program’s first-ever back-to-back CCIW Regular Season Championships. She totaled 51 kills (4.64 per set) and 35 digs (3.18 per set), while also adding seven aces, four blocks, and an assist.

Last Wednesday, French became IWU’s all-time kills leader with her 1,778th career kill in a win over Carroll. She followed with 17 kills, 15 digs, and three aces in a sweep of #3 Wisconsin-Oshkosh before closing with 21 kills and seven digs in a four-set win over #5 Juniata. Her effort earned her IWU Tournament III All-Tournament Team honors.

Setter: Sophie Feeney, Illinois Wesleyan
Feeney totaled 65 assists, averaging 5.91 per set in the 6-2 rotation, while adding 21 digs, nine aces and two kills. Feeney opened the week with 16 assists, seven digs, and four aces in a four-set win over Carroll. She followed with 24 assists, four aces, and seven digs as IWU swet UWO. The junior capped the week with 25 assists, seven digs, two kills, and an ace in the victory over Juniata, helping the Titans hit .293 for the match.

Defensive: Kannyn Boyd, Illinois Wesleyan
Boyd anchored the IWU defense during the 3-0 week, logging tallied 55 digs (5.0 per set), 14 assists (1.27 per set) and two aces, as IWU’s defense held opponents to a .198 attack percentage.

Boyd opened the week with 17 digs, three assists, and an ace in a four-set win over Carroll. She added 15 digs and five assists versus UWO and later capped her Senior Day with 23 digs, six assists, and an ace to beat Juniata, earning IWU Tournament III All-Tournament Team honors.

2025 CCIW Women’s Volleyball Student-Athletes of the Week

Hitter

Nov. 3: Taylor French, Illinois Wesleyan

Oct. 27: Alex Bardouniotis, Illinois Wesleyan

Oct. 20: Kristina Manojlovic, Carthage

Oct. 13: Taylor French, Illinois Wesleyan

Oct. 6: Alex Bardouniotis, Illinois Wesleyan

Sept. 29: Meg Rothermel, North Park

Sept. 22: Taylor French, Illinois Wesleyan

Sept. 15: Sarah Lezon, North Central

Sept. 8: Taylor French, Illinois Wesleyan

Sept. 2: Annaliese Rotman, North Park

Setter

Nov. 3: Sophia Feeney, Illinois Wesleyan

Oct. 27: Payton Depies, Carroll

Oct. 20: Kendal Britton, North Park

Oct. 13: Sophia Feeney, Illinois Wesleyan

Oct. 6: Kendal Britton, North Park

Sept. 29: Sarah Harvey, North Central

Sept. 22: Alyssa Frederking, Millikin

Sept. 15: Kendal Britton, North Park

Sept. 8: Sarah Harvey, North Central

Sept. 2: Kendal Britton, North Park

Defensive

Nov. 3: Kannyn Boyd, Illinois Wesleyan

Oct. 27: Maggie McGough, Carroll

Oct. 20: Hannah Tellor, Illinois Wesleyan

Oct. 13: Kyra Carothers, Millikin

Oct. 6: Eleanor Palmer, Illinois Wesleyan

Sept. 29: Grace Autry, Wheaton

Sept. 22: Kyra Carothers, Millikin

Sept. 15: Jenna Damon, Carthage

Sept. 8: Alysa Lawton, Illinois Wesleyan

Sept. 2: Kannyn Boyd, Illinois Wesleyan

Follow the CCIW
| CCIW on X | CCIW Instagram | CCIW Facebook |

The College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin (CCIW) was founded in 1946 and currently services nine member institutions including Augustana College (Rock Island, Ill.), Carroll University (Waukesha, Wis.), Carthage College (Kenosha, Wis.), Elmhurst University (Elmhurst, Ill.), Illinois Wesleyan University (Bloomington, Ill.), Millikin University (Decatur, Ill.), North Central College (Naperville, Ill.), North Park University (Chicago, Ill.) and Wheaton College (Wheaton, Ill.).

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Hartman named MVC Player of the Week for third time this season

Published

34 minutes ago

November 4, 2025

Your Sports Nation

ST. LOUIS — UNI junior outside hitter Cassidy Hartman has been named the Missouri Valley Conference’s (MVC) Player of the Week for volleyball, as announced by the league office on Monday afternoon.

The selection comes for the North Liberty, Iowa native after led the Panthers with a pair of double-digit kill showings and one double-double performances in victories over Belmont and Southern Illinois, helping UNI improve to 12-0 in league play.

Northern Iowa is currently in the midst of a 15-match winning streak, tied for the second-longest in Division I, while also having won 48 consecutive regular season matches against MVC opponents, the third-longest such streak in program history and the second-longest active streak in the nation. UNI is also closing in on at least a share of its fourth straight MVC regular season title this week.

UNI’s season leader with 352 total blocks on the year, Hartman notably set a new career-high with 26 terminations in the Panthers’ 3-1 win at Southern Illinois on Saturday, while also tallying 11 digs for her team-leading 11th double-double of the season. Hartman also recorded 11 kills against Belmont last Thursday, having now posted ten or more kills in 19 matches this year.

Hartman’s selection is the eighth MVC weekly award of the season for the Panthers, who have also seen Maryn Bixby be named the MVC Freshman of the Week three times, and Jadyn Petersen the league’s top defense player of the week twice.

In addition to Hartman, Valparaiso’s Emma Hickey was named MVC Defensive Player of the Week for a second straight week, while Drake’s Caroline Smith earned MVC Freshman of the Week honors.

Hartman and the Panthers return to action on Tuesday nights as UNI hosts Drake at 6 p.m. CT inside the McLeod Center. Live coverage of the match can be found on ESPN+ and the Panther Sports Radio Network (106.5 FM Corn Country / 93.5 HD-2).

Tickets can be purchased online through the UNI Ticket Office, by calling 319-273-4849 or through email at tickets@uni.edu.

Fans are encouraged to wear purple for the team’s annual Purple Out match, while UNI will also celebrate Faculty and Staff Appreciation Night.

UNI students in attendance will also have the opportunity to enter a drawing for a $1,000 scholarship. Rules and eligibility can be found HERE. For a full list of upcoming Panther promotions, click HERE.

UNI volleyball action can be followed all season long on social media on Facebook (UNI Volleyball), X (@UNIVolleyball) and on Instagram (@univolleyball). The full 2025 schedule and roster, along with the latest Panther news and information can be found online at UNIpanthers.com.

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Cheney Named A-10 Volleyball Rookie of the Week

Published

50 minutes ago

November 4, 2025

Your Sports Nation

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Atlantic 10 conference has named freshman setter Ava Cheney the conference Rookie of the Week for games played Oct. 27-Nov. 2.

Cheney stepped into the solo setter role this week and rose to the occasion. Totaling 146 assists over three matches, averaging 10.43 per set, she helped quarterback the Patriots’ offense. She totaled 46 assists on Wednesday vs. GW, 57 assists on Saturday vs. Rhode Island (good for top-5 assists in a single match post-2008, and second most in a single game in the A-10 this season), and 43 assists on Sunday vs. Rhode Island.

In addition to her assists, the Tucson, Ariz. native had four service aces in Saturday’s match, and she totaled 14 digs and 9 blocks over the week.

The Patriots went 1-2 last week, splitting with Rhode Island and losing to George Washington. They are currently tied for fourth place in the A-10 with a 15-10, 8-6 conference record.

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WOMEN’S VOLLEYBALL CLINCHES AMERICA EAST POSTSEASON BERTH

Published

1 hour ago

November 4, 2025

Your Sports Nation

SMITHFIELD, R.I. – The Bryant volleyball team clinched a spot in the America East postseason on Sunday afternoon.

The Bulldogs make their return to the postseason after not qualifying last season. They’re the first team in the America East to clinch a postseason berth.

The Black and Gold have an overall 14-11 record and are 5-3 in conference play, tied for second place in the conference with UAlbany and Binghamton. Bryant split the season series with UAlbany and defeated Binghamton in the first meeting.

Bryant split their home matches against New Hampshire and UMBC this weekend at the Chace Athletic Center.

The Bulldogs are back in action on Friday night (Nov. 7), taking on the Binghamton Bearcats on the road. First serve is at 6:00 PM in Vestal, N.Y.

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CAA Volleyball Weekly Awards – Nov. 3, 2025

Published

1 hour ago

November 4, 2025

Your Sports Nation

CAA Volleyball Weekly Awards – Nov. 3, 2025

11/3/2025 2:00:00 PM

Dylan Smith

RICHMOND, Va. (Nov. 3, 2025) – Hofstra’s Beatriz Braga and Stony Brook’s Kali Moore shared Offensive Player of the Week honors, while the Pride’s Julia Amorim and the Seawolves’ Ava Zamora earned outright Defensive Player and Rookie of the Week recognition, respectively, on Monday.

CO-OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Beatriz Braga, Hofstra
Junior | Outside Hitter | Uberlândia, Brazil

Braga helped the Pride pick up a pair of road wins over North Carolina A&T to extend the win streak to nine consecutive matches. For the week, Braga averaged 5.13 kills, 1.88 digs and 0.75 blocks per set. She also hit at a .304 clip in the two contests. The Brazilian native posted 41 kills, while adding 15 digs and six blocks in the two matches. On Saturday, she was outstanding with 20 kills in the three-set match, averaging nearly seven kills per set to go with seven digs and three blocks. In Sunday’s win, she literally one-upped herself with 21 kills, a .350 attack percentage, along with eight digs and three blocks. Both kill totals established new season highs for Braga, and they were just the second and third times in her career that she has reached the 20-kill plateau in a match.

CO-OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Kali Moore, Stony Brook
Senior | Outside Hitter | Brooklyn, N.Y.
Moore led the Seawolves offense with 41 kills in a pair of upset wins over Towson. The two wins were also the program’s first two wins against the Tigers in its previous 16 matches prior to the weekend slate. The senior outside hitter posted her fifth 20-kill performance of the season with 22 on Friday en route to a 3-1 victory over the Tigers. Moore also had two aces and nine blocks, including a season-high six blocks on Friday. The Brooklyn, N.Y., native followed up with her ninth double-double of the season, notching 19 kills and a season-high 19 digs to secure another 3-1 victory on the road.

DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Julia Amorim, Hofstra
Freshman | Middle Blocker | Pavuna, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Amorim produced a strong week as the Pride won both contests at North Carolina A&T to extend the current win streak to nine consecutive matches. The middle blocker totaled 15 stuffs, including five solo, along with nine kills, three service aces, and a pair of digs. In Saturday’s match, Amorim totaled nine blocks, including four on her own, to go with three kills, two aces and two digs. The freshman followed that up with another strong defensive effort with six blocks and six kills in Sunday’s victory.

ROOKIE OF THE WEEK
Ava Zamora, Stony Brook
Freshman | Setter | San Diego, Calif.
Zamora guided the Seawolves to a pair of victories at Towson with 76 assists and 24 digs. The San Diego, Calif., posted a double-double in the opening match with 45 assists and a season-high 19 digs. The freshman setter then recorded 31 assists with five digs on Saturday to notch the team’s first in-season sweep of Towson. Zamora also had five kills, two aces and one block on Saturday.

2025 CAA VOLLEYBALL WEEKLY AWARDS

Offensive Player of the Week

Sept. 1: Tyne Ross, N.C. A&T

Sept. 8: Maja Daca, Campbell / Taylor Pagan, Towson

Sept. 15: Gwen Wolkow, Campbell / Ella Sanders, Towson

Sept. 22: Izadora Stedile, Hofstra

Sept. 29: Caroline Noonan, Charleston

Oct. 6: Beatriz Braga, Hofstra

Oct. 13: Gwen Wolkow, Campbell

Oct. 20: Gwen Wolkow, Campbell

Oct. 27: Tyne Ross, N.C. A&T

Nov. 3: Beatriz Braga, Hofstra / Kali Moore, Stony Brook

Defensive Player of the Week

Sept. 1: Nadia Koanui, Northeastern / Mercedes Motton, Stony Brook

Sept. 8: Malinah Purcell-Telefoni, Towson

Sept. 15: Julia Amorim, Hofstra

Sept. 22: Sydney Stewart, Towson

Sept. 29: Makena Parthen, Charleston / Sydney Stewart, Towson

Oct. 6: Sydney Stewart, Towson

Oct. 13: Jumana Martin, Charleston / Lilia Duczek, Hofstra

Oct. 20: Caroline Noonan, Charleston / Leonor Polezzi, N.C. A&T

Oct. 27: Hailey Heytvelt, Campbell / Jumana Martin, Charleston

Nov. 3: Julia Amorim, Hofstra

Rookie of the Week

Sept. 1: Ava Zamora, Stony Brook

Sept. 8: Julia Amorim, Hofstra

Sept. 15: Caroline Noonan, Charleston

Sept. 22: Nina Jioshvili-Ravva, Hofstra

Sept. 29: Malinah Purcell-Telefoni, Towson

Oct. 6: Jumana Martin, Charleston / Nina Jioshvili-Ravva, Hofstra

Oct. 13: Nina Jioshvili-Ravva, Hofstra

Oct. 20: Nina Jioshvili-Ravva, Hofstra

Oct. 27: Zariah Winton, N.C. A&T

Nov. 3: Ava Zamora, Stony Brook

Follow #CAAVB on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram to get up-to-date information and learn more about CAA member institutions and their volleyball programs.

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Mara Štiglic Named Mountain West Offensive Volleyball Player of the Week

Published

3 hours ago

November 3, 2025

Your Sports Nation

LOGAN, Utah – Utah State volleyball outside hitter Mara Štiglic has been named the Old Trapper Mountain West Offensive Volleyball Player of the Week the conference announced on Monday.

Štiglic led Utah State with a .400 hitting percentage while recording 29 total kills in a pair of wins at San Diego State (3-1) and UNLV (3-0). The sophomore from Rijeka, Croatia, averaged 4.14 kills per set for the week and added two aces, six digs and four blocks. Štiglic tied for the team lead with 13 kills against the Aztecs, hitting .355 on 31 total attempts and adding three blocks. Against the Rebels, Štiglic posted 16 kills on 29 attempts for a .448 hitting percentage, also adding two aces. In the third set, Štiglic had a team-high eight kills to help seal the win. Of 60 total attempts during the week, Štiglic recorded only five hitting errors.

It is Štiglic’s second time this season and in her career earning Player of the Week honors. She previously earned the award after totaling 46 total kills to help USU to wins against Utah Valley and Weber State plus a spirited effort against then-No. 16 BYU, averaging 4.18 kills per set for the week.

Štiglic is the first Aggie to receive multiple awards from the MW this season. Utah State has had six different players receive a weekly award from the conference this season.

PREVIOUS AGGIES TO RECEIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK THIS SEASON

Sept. 2 – Tierney Barlow, Sr., MB – Offensive Player of the Week

Sept. 22 – Mara Štiglic, So., OH – Offensive Player of the Week

Sept. 29 – Lauren Larkin, R-Fr., MB – Freshman of the Week

Oct. 6 – Kaylie Kofe, So., S – Offensive Player of the Week

Oct. 13 – Kendel Thompson, Jr., L/DS – Defensive Player of the Week

Oct. 27 – Loryn Helgesen, So., OPP – Offensive Player of the Week

Up Next

The Aggies return home for a pair of crucial matches versus teams currently in Mountain West Tournament position. Utah State will first host second-place Colorado State on Thursday, Nov. 6, at 6 p.m., before facing Wyoming, who currently sits third in the conference standings, on Saturday, Nov. 8, at noon.

Season tickets, mini-plans, and single-game tickets are on sale now and can be purchased here or by contacting the USU Ticket Office at 435-797-0305.

Fans can follow the Aggie volleyball program on Twitter, @USUVolleyball, on Facebook at /USUVolleyball or on Instagram, @usuvolleyball. Aggie fans can also follow the Utah State athletic program on Twitter, @USUAthletics, Facebook at /USUAthletics and on Instagram, @USUAthletics.

– USU –

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