Golfweek's 2025 Moment of the Year: Rory McIlroy gave us no choice

I love a good argument. So, in the name of defending an indefensible stance, I’m here to tell you that the moment of the year on the PGA Tour was when American journeyman Brian Campbell’s tee shot in a playoff with Aldrich Potgieter at the Mexico Open hit a tree and ricocheted back into play. He went from almost certainly being OB and having to re-tee and gift-wrapping the maiden Tour title of the young South African’s career to lifting the trophy for an improbable win by the shortest hitter in the field over the longest driver in the field at a course that heavily favored the bomber. If that win wasn’t improbable enough, Campbell won again at the John Deere Classic. What a year 2025 was for the 32-year-old product of the University of Illinois.

But only Campbell’s parents, his caddie and perhaps Potgieter’s accountant would nod their heads in agreement that it was the moment of the year. I concede that this year picking the signature moment of the year was as cut and dry as ever – there’s only one answer for the moment of the year and it was Rory McIlroy winning the Masters in April to complete the career Grand Slam.

It's the moment from the 2025 golf season that will be etched in our memory. 

McIlroy took us on the most wild rollercoaster of emotions – he blew it, he rallied, he was coasting to victory, he blew it, he pulled off the hero shot, he blew it again, rinse and repeat and then finally stuffed his approach close enough at the first playoff hole so close that even he managed to shake it in for the win – 14 years after he squandered a back-nine lead at Augusta National Golf Club in what could’ve been his first major. He also ended a nearly 11-year drought at the majors.

Was it the roped 5-iron at 15? The scintillating 8-iron at 17? Or just seeing McIlroy on his hands and knees, pounding the ground on the 18th green with the emotion of the realization that he had just achieved a lifelong dream? Yes, yes and yes.

McIlroy became the first player since Tiger Woods in 2000 to complete the career Grand Slam. He’s one of only six players to achieve this feat. And while nothing should be taken away from Gene Sarazen and Ben Hogan, who accomplished it before it became a benchmark, in the modern era only Gary Player and Jack Nicklaus managed it — and that was nearly six decades ago. That speaks volumes about the rarity of this achievement.

So, sorry Brian Campbell, I tried, but not even I can go contrarian and look past how McIlroy finally got over the last hurdle, and as he put it, threw up over himself a few times on the way to achieving Golfweek’s Moment of the Year. 

I do have three moments from the post-celebration aftermath that will stick with me, too, whenever I think of McIlroy’s victory at the Masters.

• Shane Lowry shot a final-round 81 and he was taking it hard as he entered the clubhouse. He already made it very clear as he headed to the locker room that he wouldn’t be doing any interviews. But when McIlroy sealed the deal, he came charging down the stairs with a smile on his face, a complete 180 in his mood, and as he pulled open the door to go and wait to greet his buddy, who he’d give a bear’s hug and lift off the ground, he said of McIlroy, “He doesn’t make it easy, does he?”
• The hug that really made a lasting impression with me was the one McIlroy gave to Kate Rose, Justin Rose’s wife. McIlroy had already attempted to console his opponent and he had enough self-awareness in this moment to know that, as much joy as he felt, Rose was a hard-luck loser for the second time in a playoff — he previously lost to Sergio Garcia in 2017 — at the Masters. Rose shot a 10-birdie final-round 66 but it wasn't enough to claim his second career major.
• And then, after hugging nearly everyone hanging around the scoring area, McIlroy uttered a line that brought a new wave of cheers and catcalls. “Time to go get a Green Jacket,” he said.

At last, it really was, and while there was plenty of brilliance before and after, nothing compared to McIlroy at the Masters in 2025.

This article originally appeared on Golfweek: Rory McIlroy's Masters win is 2025's golf moment to remember