It’s a party in the McIlroy family at Augusta National.
After winning back-to-back Masters — the first since Tiger Woods in 2002 — Rory McIlroy quickly went over to show some love to his family on the sidelines.
The Northern Irishman first hugged his daughter, Poppy, and followed with a kiss to his wife, Erica Stoll. The two tied the knot in 2017 and welcomed their daughter in 2020.
McIlroy filed for divorce from Stoll in May 2024, only to call off the proceedings a month later. New details of what may have caused the rift emerged earlier this week, but the couple has been all smiles at Augusta.
McIlroy’s parents, Rosie and Gerry, could be seen overtaken with emotion as they received a hug from their son.
Sunday marked only the second major that McIlroy’s parents have attended throughout his career. The first was his British Open win in 2014.
CBS announcer Jim Nantz even got emotional about the moment on the broadcast.
“How sweet is it that Rosie and Gerry get to see it in person this year,” he said. “They weren’t here last year. Their only child. That child protegy. They worked around the clock, multiple jobs to give him a chance to be the man that you saw today.”
McIlroy arrived at Augusta as the defending champion, a year from completing the career Grand Slam. The pressure was poured on even more so after he finished Friday with a tournament record six-shot lead.
Many were calling the tournament to be over.
However, he blew it on Saturday and upcoming star Cam Young was on his tail heading into Sunday’s finale.
It came down to the wire but the green jacket looked to be largely McIlroy’s throughout the final couple holes. He finished on 12-under par and won by one shot following a bogey on 18 that could have been worse.
Both he and his family were saved from another playoff to win, which occurred last year against Justin Rose.
Still, it was a win that family tears were shed for.
