AUGUSTA, Georgia: The US Masters ended in the most dramatic climax as Rory McIlroy defeated Justin Rose in a playoff to join the legendary quintet who had previously achieved golf’s career grand slam.

Both men finished in an 11-under-par 66 after Northern Irishman McIlroy went into the bunker on his way to the 18th green then narrowly missed his first putt. By then British Ryder Cup team-mate Rose, nine years older at 44, was waiting on the practice park.

The playoff saw McIlroy significantly closer to the pin with his second shot to set up a putting shootout for the famous green jacket. Rose, going first, had to putt from 14ft and pushed the ball just wide. That set up McIlroy to make history from 4ft then sink to his knees in relief and ecstasy.

McIlroy’s fourth day had veered from one extreme to the other. He began with a two-shot advantage before the world No2 bogeyed the last to close on a one-over 73 and slip back to 11-under alongside Rose, who had overturned a seven-stroke deficit for a final-round 66 to force the play-off.

This fifth major title was McIlroy’s first since the 2014 PGA Championship, lifting him alongside history men Gene Sarazen, Ben Hogan, Gary Player, Jack Nicklaus and Tiger Woods.

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