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

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**McIlroy's Masters Nightmare: A Lesson Learned**

Rory McIlroy's agonizing defeat at the 2011 Masters remains one of the most pivotal moments in his career. The Northern Irishman, just 22 years old at the time, was leading the tournament with nine holes to go before imploding in a heartbreaking fashion.

**The Unraveling**

McIlroy's collapse was swift and decisive. He double-bogeyed 10th, bogeyed 17th, and double-bogeyed 18th, slipping from 5-under par to 2-over. The crushing defeat would prove to be a turning point for McIlroy, forcing him to confront his own mental demons.

**A Lesson Learned**

In the aftermath of his collapse, McIlroy spoke candidly about his struggles with pressure and expectation. He acknowledged that he had put too much weight on his shoulders and failed to manage his nerves. The experience would serve as a valuable lesson, one that McIlroy would later apply to future victories.

**The Road to Redemption**

Just eight weeks after the 2011 Masters, McIlroy won his first major at the US Open, shooting a record 16-under par at Congressional. His triumph marked a significant turning point in his career, as he began to assert himself as one of the world's top golfers.

**A Golden Era**

McIlroy's success at the US Open kickstarted a golden era for the Northern Irishman. He went on to win eight majors, including three PGA Championships and two Opens. His victories cemented his status as one of the greatest players in modern golf history.

**The Elusive Green Jacket**

Despite seven top-10 finishes in his past 10 Masters outings, McIlroy remains the only major winner without a green jacket. He has come close on several occasions, including runner-up finishes to Scottie Scheffler and Justin Thomas.

**Time is Still on His Side**

At 33 years old, time is still on McIlroy's side. While his major drought extended to eight years in 2022, he showed flashes of brilliance last year, setting himself up for a potential breakthrough at Augusta National this week.

**The Missing Piece**

For McIlroy, the Masters remains the only major title missing from his collection. He has come close on several occasions but ultimately fallen short. This week's event may be his chance to rectify that omission and claim the final piece of his career grand slam.

Will McIlroy finally break his drought at Augusta National this week? Only time will tell, but one thing is certain: his 2011 Masters nightmare remains a pivotal moment in his remarkable career.
 
idk what's so special about rory mcilroy not havin a green jacket 🤔... just 'cause he hasn't won at masters dont mean hes not great. i mean, eight majors and all that? still an amazing record imo. but still, gotta wonder if the pressure is gettin to him at this point... has he been playin too safe or too wild? dont get me wrong, mcilroy's a legend and all, but i think we're just expectin too much from one guy 🤷‍♂️
 
🤔 The parallels between Rory McIlroy's 2011 Masters collapse and modern-day athletes' struggles with pressure are striking. 🏌️‍♂️ In an era where mental health awareness is increasingly prominent, it's heartening to see a golfer like McIlroy openly discuss his own demons and the impact they had on his game. 💔 The fact that he was able to use this experience as a catalyst for growth and eventual success serves as a powerful reminder of the importance of self-awareness and emotional regulation in high-stakes environments. 🌟
 
🤔 This collapse by Rory McIlroy at the 2011 Masters is still mind-blowing. I mean, he was leading with nine holes to go and then just imploded 🤯. It's crazy to think about how much pressure he must've felt, especially being so young. Did you see that? 😲

It's great to see him bounce back though! Eight weeks later, he wins his first major at the US Open and it really launched his career into high gear ⛳️.

But, I wonder... is this still going on for him now? Is he getting the same pressure to perform at majors that he did back in 2011? 🤔 It's like the weight of expectation has stayed with him all these years.

I think that's what makes his current situation so fascinating 🎯. Will he finally get that elusive green jacket this week? Time will tell, but I'm keeping my eyes on him 😅
 
😔 Rory McIlroy's story is so inspiring 🌟 he went from having a complete meltdown on the golf course to becoming one of the greatest players of all time 💪. I mean, can you imagine being in such a huge pressure situation and just losing it? 😩 but he learned from his mistakes and grew as a person and player 🤓. It's amazing how he was able to turn that setback into a major win at the US Open just eight weeks later 🎉.
 
OMG, I cant believe Rory's still chasing that green jacket 🙄🏊‍♂️ Like seriously, he's had so much success over the years, but Augusta just eludes him? Its like he's stuck on repeat 😩. Maybe this is his last chance to break that curse? Fingers crossed for him, I wanna see him finally get that major win 💪
 
🤔 I remember watching Rory McIlroy play back in the day and he was already so talented 🙌. But that collapse at the 2011 Masters still gives me goosebumps 😱, he was so close to winning but just couldn't get it together 💔. It's crazy how far he's come since then though, I mean eight major wins is insane 🤯! He's still got his eye on that elusive green jacket and who knows maybe this time around he'll finally take it home 🏆💪
 
I mean, think about it, 2025 and Rory McIlroy's still chasing that green jacket... 🤔 8 years of drought, can he finally get over the finish line? It's crazy to think how much pressure he must've been under back in '11. Double bogeys on 10 & 18, yeah that's not a rookie mistake. 😂

And what's up with the Masters being his only major without it? That's gotta be tough, all those close calls. Maybe he just needs to take a deep breath and focus on the present. Not like he hasn't done that before... 💨 33 and still got it in him! Can't wait to see what happens this week 👀
 
he 2011 masters nightmare for rory mcilroy was like, super intense 🤯 i mean, he was leading and everything, but then just completely lost it 💥 double bogeys and all that drama 😩. i think it's really cool that he talked about it afterwards and said it helped him learn to deal with pressure better 🙏. now he's like, super consistent and has won so many majors 🏆 it's crazy to think about how far he's come! but still, can't help but feel for him that he's never won a masters green jacket 🎉👀
 
🏌️‍♂️ Rory's '11 Masters meltdown still gives me chills, dude 🤯 He literally imploded on the course and it was like watching a train wreck you can't look away from 😳 Time is running out for him to get that green jacket tho... 33 ain't old in golf years 💪
 
omg i feel bad for rory mcilroy 🤕 like he was so close to winning that major back in 2011 and then just had a mental breakdown on the last 9 holes 😩 it's crazy to think about how much pressure he must have been under as a young golfer, especially since he won the us open right after that 🏆 but at the same time, i love how he's still talking openly about his struggles with nerves and expectations now 💯 like, mental health is so important and we should all be supporting each other in dealing with our own anxieties 😊
 
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