2 w. ago Rory McIlroy shaken by scale of ‘absolutely amazing’ reaction to Masters triumph

Augusta winner returns in Zurich Classic of New OrleansMcIlroy and Shane Lowry are the defending championsRory McIlroy has admitted to being taken aback by the scale of reaction to his Masters triumph. Two US presidents – Donald Trump and Barack Obama – plus huge names from worlds outside sport have contacted the Northern Irishman since he completed the career grand slam at Augusta National. Amid moving scenes at Augusta, McIlroy’s outpouring of emotion reverberated way beyond golf. The achievement meant “everything and more” to McIlroy. It struck chords elsewhere.McIlroy, who beat Justin Rose in a playoff to win the Green Jacket, will return to the course at this week’s Zurich Classic of New Orleans. He was in bed with a fever on Monday, and was still slightly jaded when he addressed the media at TPC Louisiana on Wednesday. Continue reading...

Politics

2 w. ago Bottle it up: how venting emotion can harm performance in elite sport | Sean Ingle

Studies have shown that failing to control feelings has a negative effect on outcomes – but there are exceptionsTwo scenes from an extraordinary week. The first: Justin Rose, a gentleman in a bearpit as Augusta hollered loud and long for Rory McIlroy. The second: the British tennis player Harriet Dart, causing a stink by asking for her French opponent to apply deodorant as “she’s smelling really bad” before succumbing to a 6-0, 6-3 thrashing.Pressure does strange things, of course. But the wildly different reactions of Rose, Dart and indeed McIlroy, whose final round became part white-knuckle ride, part pass‑the‑parcel, raises an intriguing question: when the heat is on, should sport stars let their emotions out or bottle them up to improve their performance? Continue reading...

Politics

2 w. ago Let it out or bottle it up? Does venting emotion harm performance in elite sport? | Sean Ingle

Studies have shown that failing to control feelings has a negative effect on outcomes – but there are exceptionsTwo scenes from an extraordinary week. The first: Justin Rose, a gentleman in a bearpit as Augusta hollered loud and long for Rory McIlroy. The second: the British tennis player Harriet Dart, causing a stink by asking for her French opponent to apply deodorant as “she’s smelling really bad” before succumbing to a 6-0, 6-3 thrashing.Pressure does strange things, of course. But the wildly different reactions of Rose, Dart and indeed McIlroy, whose final round became part white-knuckle ride, part pass‑the‑parcel, raises an intriguing question: when the heat is on, should sport stars let their emotions out or bottle them up to improve their performance? Continue reading...

Politics

2 w. ago Rory McIlroy's rumoured ex Amanda Balionis back on TV for the first time since his Masters win

The Northern Irishman became only the sixth man to clinch the career Grand Slam last Sunday after prevailing in a nail-biting play-off hole against Justin Rose.

Politics

2 w. ago Bryson DeChambeau breaks silence on Rory McIlroy 'beef' after Masters champion IGNORED rival US star during Augusta triumph

An emotional McIlroy achieved golf's career Grand Slam after holding his nerve to get the better of Justin Rose in a tense play-off last Sunday.

Sport

2 w. ago Gary Lineker shares brilliant Rory McIlroy story that speaks volumes for Masters winner

Rory McIlroy ended his wait for a maiden Masters title by beating Justin Rose in a play-off at Augusta on Sunday - and Gary Lineker is full of praise for the Northern Ireland hero.

Politics

2 w. ago 'Tormented' Justin Rose breaks silence on his wife being Rory McIlroy's Masters 'mystery woman'

Justin Rose's wife Kate was labeled as Rory McIlroy's 'mystery woman' after she was spotted hugging and congratulating her husband's rival, sending social media into a frenzy.

Politics

3 w. ago Justin Rose comments on Rory McIlroy's reunion with 'mystery woman' at the Masters

Justin Rose was beaten by Rory McIlroy in a play-off at the Masters before his wife was captured embracing the Northern Irishman following the winning putt at Augusta National

Politics

3 w. ago Justin Rose admits he is ‘tormented’ by latest Masters near miss after Rory McIlroy defeat

The Englishman was pipped in a play-off at Augusta for a second time in his career

Politics

3 w. ago ‘Tormented but I don’t feel down’: Rose opens up on Masters heartache

Englishman lost in playoff at Augusta for second time‘I could really sense what it would be like to win it’Justin Rose says he feels “tormented” by a feeling of what might have been after losing a second Masters playoff. Eight years after losing out to Sergio Garcia at Augusta National, Rose was beaten on the first extra hole by Rory McIlroy, who holed from short range for birdie after Rose’s attempt had narrowly missed.Rose had started the final round seven shots behind McIlroy, but made his 10th birdie of the day on the 18th in a closing 66 to set the clubhouse target, with McIlroy then missing from five feet for the title in regulation. Continue reading...

Politics

3 w. ago Rory McIlroy shares emotional message after historic Masters win ends career Grand Slam wait

Rory McIlroy won the Masters for the first time in his career on Sunday after beating Justin Rose in a play-off and the Northern Irishman has now shared an emotional message

Politics

3 w. ago Rory McIlroy drops hint on Masters Champions Dinner menu with subtle Scottie Scheffler dig

Rory McIlroy won his first ever Masters title this week after beating Justin Rose in the play-off to win the fifth major of his career and with it, become the sixth man to win the Career Grand Slam

Politics

3 w. ago Moment Rory McIlroy had with Justin Rose's wife Kate after Masters win explained

Rory McIlroy was visibly emotional after clinching Masters victory on Sunday

Politics

3 w. ago Ryder Cup 2025: Team Europe latest qualification standings after Rory McIlroy beats Justin Rose at Masters

Several big names have ground to make up if they are to qualify automatically for European side

Politics

3 w. ago Wrap battle: Nick Vadasz’s tandoori chicken roll is the takeaway killer

Forget limp late-night shawarma – The Picklesman’s Friday night roll comes locked, loaded and ‘Vadaszled’ with punchy pineapple kraut. Just add mayo and a squeeze of lemon

Events

3 w. ago Semenyo’s swift strike stuns Fulham to end Bournemouth’s winless run

It falls to the squeezed middle to breathe life into the 2024-25 Premier League season. The battle for European places is some way off being decided. Thanks to an early goal and a dogged defensive display that went against type, Bournemouth have relaunched their candidacy.After ransacking champions-elect Liverpool, inconsistencies have stopped Marco Silva’s Fulham being a true contender for the top five. Victory in Dorset could have placed them in the Justin Rose, striking-distance position. Instead, Bournemouth leapfrogged the Londoners into eighth. Continue reading...

Events

3 w. ago Rory McIlroy steps into league of his own with magical Masters triumph | Ewan Murray

Nick Faldo has more majors and Seve Ballesteros was a majestic shotmaker but the career grand slam is pricelessIn Northern Ireland, debate is already raging as to whether Rory McIlroy has presented himself as the country’s greatest ever sportsperson.The answer is surely obvious. Step aside, George Best. McIlroy’s Masters triumph may even force Sports Personality of the Year to afford due recognition to golf. It is only April but it feels highly unlikely the scene immediately after McIlroy claimed the Masters on Sunday will be matched. His pounding of the turf; his tears absorbed more than a decade of such deep frustration. The moment reverberated beyond sport; Rory had done it. Grown men, lots of them, shed tears on his behalf as he broke his Augusta hoodoo. Continue reading...

Politics

3 w. ago Masters nearly man Justin Rose plays huge part in McIlroy’s historic win | Andy Bull

The 44-year-old handled another near miss at Augusta with class and his place in Europe’s Ryder Cup team looks assuredThere was one very happy man in Augusta on Monday morning, and there were 52 all in a stew, turning over thoughts of what went right and what went wrong, that short putt on the 6th, that wayward chip on 12, that sliced drive on 15, or whatever it was that cost them their shot at winning the 2025 Masters. While Rory McIlroy can enjoy what was, everyone else in the field is wondering what might have been. Justin Rose will feel it most. Rose, the antagonist in Rory’s story, scored 65, 71, 75, 66 – the last of them, he said himself, “a bogey away from being the greatest round I’ve ever played”.The second shots during the playoff summed it up. Rose’s was pretty near perfect in the circumstances, and landed 15 feet from the pin, McIlroy’s landed just beyond it, caught the slope, and rolled back down and around, past Rose’s ball, and finished up 5ft from the cup. Sometimes ...

Politics

3 w. ago Grace of Masters nearly man Justin Rose enhanced McIlroy’s historic win | Andy Bull

The 44-year-old handled another Augusta near miss with class and his place in Europe’s Ryder Cup team looks assuredThere was one very happy man at Augusta on Monday morning, and there were 52 all in a stew, turning over thoughts of what went right and what went wrong, that short putt on the 6th, that wayward chip on 12, that sliced drive on 15, or whatever it was that cost them their shot at winning the 2025 Masters.While Rory McIlroy can enjoy what was, everyone else in the field is wondering what might have been. Justin Rose will feel it most. Rose, the antagonist in Rory’s story, scored 65, 71, 75, 66 – the last of them, he said, “a bogey away from being the greatest round I’ve ever played”. Continue reading...

Politics

3 w. ago Rory McIlroy’s career grand slam celebrated with Royal Mail postmark

Stamped envelopes posted between April 15-17 will be postmarked with ‘Congratulations, Rory McIlroy, on completing your career Grand Slam!’.

Politics