Rory McIlroy finally joined the elite club after winning the Masters in April, and his close friend and business partner, Tiger Woods, welcomed him with a touching message

Rory McIlroy was told ‘welcome to the club” by Tiger Woods after winning the Masters(Image: 2025 NBCUniversal Media, LLC)

Tiger Woods had a simple yet impactful message for Rory McIlroy when he secured his maiden Masters win and became the sixth person in history to complete the Grand Slam in golf.

After waiting 11 years for another major win, McIlroy triumphed in the one competition that had evaded him, the Masters Golf Tournament at Augusta National. McIlroy cried tears of joy after beating Justin Rose and shared an emotional moment with his four-year-old daughter Poppy before being congratulated by Woods.

During an appearance on ‘The Tonight Show’ with Jimmy Fallon, McIlroy revealed what Woods said to him after sinking the winning putt. “He said, ‘Welcome to the club, kid.’”

Still in disbelief over his Grand Slam success, McIlroy added: “Six people ever have achieved the Grand Slam in golf. Only four of us are living. You know, Gary Player is 90 years old, Jack (Nicklaus) is 85 or 86, then there’s Tiger and myself. It’s really cool to be a part of.”

McIlroy has had a phenomenal start to 2025, culminating in his first-ever Masters victory at Augusta National on April 13, setting him on course for his most successful season as a professional golfer. McIlroy concluded an 11-year quest for another major win by defeating Justin Rose in a thrilling playoff, fulfilling a lifelong ambition and securing a coveted green jacket.

Following his emotional triumph at Augusta, McIlroy was moved by the outpouring of affection and support he received in the subsequent days. “It’s been an amazing few days, to be able to reflect on everything that happened and the magnitude of everything,” McIlroy shared with the press at TPC Louisiana shortly after the Masters.

McIlroy is still coming to terms with his Masters win(Image: Richard Heathcote/Getty Images)

“I think the big thing for me is just how the whole journey sort of resonated with people and the people that have reached out to me. That’s been absolutely amazing. It’s not every day you get to fulfil one of your lifelong goals and dreams. I’ve just really tried to enjoy everything that comes along with that.

“I spoke to two presidents the day after, which was pretty cool. Just people reaching out from all walks of life, whether it be sports, entertainment, culture. Just all of it. People you would never even think would watch golf or would know what’s going on; that was very, very humbling.

“I think people can see themselves in the struggle at times, and everything that you sort of try to put into getting the best out of yourself in that journey. Watching someone finally get it done, something they’ve been trying to do for a decade plus, I think it resonated.”

Becoming the first European to achieve a golfing Grand Slam, after previous wins at the U.S. Open, the PGA Championship, and the Open Championship, is just part of what makes this season victorious for McIlroy. Besides clinching the Masters, he has triumphed in two other events this year.

McIlroy is having a stunning season with over $13 million in prize money through four months(Image: Michael Reaves/Getty Images)

Kicking off February with a win at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am was only a prelude to McIlroy’s success, which continued when he claimed victory at the Players Championship at Sawgrass in March. In nearly every tournament this year, McIlroy has been a formidable contender, securing a tied-fifth finish at the Texas Children’s Houston Open before heading to the Masters and making the cut at both the Genesis Invitational and Arnold Palmer Invitational.

Despite his Boston Common Golf Club not advancing to the playoffs during the TGL’s inaugural season, McIlroy’s involvement as a co-founder of the tech-driven league, along with Tiger Woods, brought him success as a partner. The league is set to expand, with investors eager to launch new teams and build on the original six that competed this year.

From golf competitions, McIlroy has earned an impressive $13,257,558 in prize money so far this year, and he’s poised to challenge Scottie Scheffler for the World No. 1 spot. Regardless of the outcomes for the remainder of the season, 2025 will undoubtedly be marked as a banner year for McIlroy.