The haunting Masters meltdown that changed Rory McIlroy’s career | CNN

The article discusses Rory McIlroy's performance in the 2011 Masters Tournament, where he led the tournament with nine holes to go but ultimately lost to Bubba Watson. McIlroy has spoken publicly about his disappointment and frustration with that loss, but also acknowledged it as a valuable learning experience.

McIlroy has since gone on to win four major championships, including three in 2014 and 2015, but still holds out the hope of winning The Masters, which would complete his career Grand Slam. He has had some success at Augusta National in recent years, finishing second to Scottie Scheffler in 2022.

Despite the lack of a green jacket in his closet, McIlroy remains confident that he will eventually win The Masters. His experience and skill, combined with his determination and focus, make him a strong contender for the title this year.

Key quotes from the article:

* "I'm very disappointed at the minute, and I'm sure I will be for the next few days, but I'll get over it." - Rory McIlroy
* "If I had not had the whole unravelling, if I had just made a couple of bogeys coming down the stretch and lost by one, I would not have learned as much. Luckily, it did not take me long to get into a position like that again when I was leading a major and I was able to get over the line quite comfortably." - Rory McIlroy
* "The missing piece" - Rory McIlroy's quest for his first Masters title

Overall, the article highlights McIlroy's resilience and determination in the face of adversity, as well as his continued pursuit of excellence on the golf course.
 
omg i still cant believe what happened to rory mcilroy at the masters 2011 he was so close to winning but bubba watson took it away from him 🤕 but u know what? that loss turned out to be a blessing in disguise for him lol he went on to win so many major championships and now hes still chasing that first masters title 💪 his determination and focus are truly inspiring, i love how he's still got that fire in his belly 🔥 and i gotta say, i think he's got a good shot at finally winning it this year 🌞 lets go rory!! 👍
 
I'm still gettin' chills thinkin' about that 2011 Masters 😲 Rory McIlroy was so close to takin' it all down but Bubba Watson had other plans 🤯. I mean, we've seen some epic comebacks in sports history, but this one's definitely up there ⚡️. It's crazy to think about how far he's come since then - four major wins and still chasin' that green jacket 💚. I gotta respect his determination, dude 🙌. He's still got the hunger, even after all these years 😏. You can't fault a guy for never givin' up on his dream 🌟. Now, if only he can get over that one disappointment... 😉
 
I don't get why Rory McIlroy is still chasing that one green jacket 🤔. I mean, he's already won four majors and he's consistently top 5 at Augusta National 🏌️‍♂️. What's holding him back? Is it the pressure to complete his career Grand Slam or what? 😅 I need some stats on how many times he's come close but fallen short. Maybe there's a pattern there that we're not seeing. Also, did Bubba Watson even make the Masters field in 2011? 🤔
 
I'm so stoked to see Rory McIlroy's comeback story 🙌! He's been through some tough times, but he always bounces back stronger 💪. I mean, who wouldn't want to win The Masters? It's like, the ultimate goal for any golfer 🏆. And I love how he's not giving up on it even after all these years 😅. He's still got that fire in his belly 🔥! My guess is, he'll finally get that green jacket soon... and when he does, it'll be pure magic ✨!
 
I think he's crazy for saying he'll win The Masters, I mean, what if it doesn't happen again? 😅 He's had some close calls before, like that time he lost to Watson, and he still can't seem to seal the deal. 🤔 On the other hand, his determination is pretty inspiring... I guess? 🤷‍♂️ It's cool that he's still got hope after all these years, but what if it's just not meant to be? 😔
 
I think Rory McIlroy is still got a shot at that elusive Green Jacket, you know? He's been close before and has since proved himself to be a top player. The way he talks about that 2011 Masters loss as a learning experience, it just shows his mental toughness. I mean, most people would have given up after that, but not him. He's still got the hunger for that first major win at Augusta National. And let's be real, he's been playing some top-notch golf lately, especially with those 2014 and 2015 majors under his belt. I wouldn't count him out just yet 😊.
 
OMG, I think it's crazy that Rory McIlroy is still gunning for his 1st Masters win 🤯 He's had some amazing success in other majors, but there's just something about The Masters that keeps slipping through his fingers 😔 I think what's most inspiring about him though is how he takes these tough losses and uses them as an opportunity to learn & grow 💪 Like, who wouldn't want to have experienced that kind of disappointment & come out the other side even stronger? 🤓 Anyway, I'm definitely keeping my eyes on him this year - fingers crossed for a change of luck! 😄
 
🏌️‍♂️ just saw that Rory McIlroy is still gonna win the Masters one day lol he's been close a few times already, can't imagine him giving up on it now 🤔 gotta feel for the guy though, losing to Bubba Watson was crazy 📈 anyway, his determination and focus are def inspiring, might have to check out some of his old vids 📺
 
🤔 I'm still rooting for Rory to win that elusive Masters title 🏆! He's come so far since that tough loss back in 2011 😬. His experience has definitely helped him navigate the pressure and expectations, but you can tell he still wants it badly 🎯. And let's be real, he's been close before, finishing second to Scheffler last year 👀. The man's got game 🔥! I think this is his year... fingers crossed for him 🤞
 
the 2011 masters loss still stings 🤕 but it's all part of the journey, right? rory's got some awesome stuff to show for it now 😎 and that 4 major wins in 2014 & 2015 are straight fire 🔥 gotta love the confidence he's got about winning the masters this year 💪 i think we can all relate to feeling disappointed after a close loss 🤔 but rory's saying it's made him a better golfer, and that's what matters 🙏 maybe next year he'll finally get that green jacket 👕
 
lol @ Rory still chasing that green jacket 🙄, dude's had some epic comebacks but can he finally get it done? I mean, 4 majors isn't bad, but he needs that Masters to really solidify his legacy 💪. And honestly, 22 is getting up there in years for a pro golfer... will he be able to hang with the young guns like Scheffler and the rest of the squad this year? 🤔
 
I'm loving Rory McIlroy's vibe right now 🤩. He's such a strong contender for The Masters and it's amazing to see how far he's come since that crazy 2011 loss 😬. I mean, four major championships? That's insane! And to think he still holds out hope of completing his career Grand Slam... gives me chills 💥. His confidence is admirable, but at the same time, you can tell he's not afraid to admit when things didn't go as planned 🤷‍♂️. It's like he learned from that experience and now he's more focused than ever on getting that first Masters title 🏆. Bring it on, Rory! 🔥
 
OMG 🤩, I think Rory McIlroy has what it takes to win The Masters! He's been so close before and he's got that competitive fire 🔥 burning bright within him! His experience is massive 💯 and his skills are unmatched 🎯, plus the fact that he's still hungry for that elusive green jacket 😏. I mean, who wouldn't want to complete their career Grand Slam? It's gonna be so exciting to watch him compete this year 📺. I'm all about rooting for the underdog (or in this case, the golf superstar 😉) and I think Rory's got what it takes to bring home that trophy! 💚
 
I feel so bad for Rory McIlroy after that loss back in 2011 🤕🏌️‍♂️. He was leading the Masters with only nine holes to go and it just slipped away from him. I can imagine how frustrating that must've been for him 😩. But, as he said himself, it was a valuable learning experience 💡. He's gone on to achieve so much since then, but still holding out hope of winning The Masters is really inspiring 🙌. I love how he's stayed focused and determined, even after all these years 🎯. It just goes to show that perseverance and hard work can take you far in life... or at least in golf 😄!
 
I'm still gonna root for Rory 🤞! I mean, he's had some amazing wins since 2011, but that Masters loss still stings 🙅‍♂️. But you know what? He's learned from it and moved forward. It's awesome to see him come back strong and finish second in '22 👏. And let's be real, he's been close a few times before - we all remember his epic battles with Scheffler 🎾.

Rory's got the game, skill-wise, and I love how he talks about the experience of coming so close but still falling short 💪. He's got that fire in his belly to win The Masters, and I wouldn't bet against him 😏. I mean, four major wins already? That's no joke 🤯! Maybe this year'll be the one... fingers crossed 👍
 
OMG u guys I just can't even right now 🤯 I was watching this vid of Rory McIlroy's 2011 Masters loss to Bubba Watson and I'm like totally feeling him 🤕 he was so close but ugh he couldn't get that green jacket lol anyway I'm def rooting for him this year 💚 like I know he'll finally get it 🙏 I've been following his career since he was a pro and he's always been so talented but also super humble 🤗 I love how he's not giving up even though it's taking him forever 😂 and omg have u seen his swing? 🌪️ it's like butter 🥖 anyway just wanted to share my thoughts 💬
 
I feel bad for Rory McIlroy when he lost that 2011 Masters Tournament 🤕 He was leading and it got away from him, but like he said, it was a valuable lesson 💡. Now he's one of the top players in the world and still chasing that elusive Masters title 🏆. It's awesome to see his determination and focus 🔥. Even though he hasn't won it yet, I think he'll get there soon enough 😊.
 
idk why ppl still talk about this 2011 loss lol 🤷‍♂️ but seriously, mcilroy's progress is insane! from that one heartbreaking loss to winning majors like crazy... it's like he was meant to have a green jacket in his closet 🔴🎉. and i feel him, losing by so little can be tough mentally, but he's all about growth & learning from those experiences 🤓
 
I think what's really interesting is that McIlroy's loss at the 2011 Masters is still a big deal for him... like, it's not just some minor setback, but a major bump in his road to success 🤔. He's still got this fire burning inside of him to win The Masters, and I think that's what makes him such a compelling figure in golf. It's almost as if he's trying to prove to himself more than anyone else... like, can he really do it? Can he overcome his own doubts and fears to claim that elusive green jacket? 🏆 It's a reminder that failure isn't the end of the world, but rather an opportunity to learn and grow. And McIlroy seems to be learning from his experiences all the time... it's like he's on this never-ending journey of self-improvement, and I think that's what makes him so relatable and inspiring 🌟.
 
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