One former PGA Tour professional needed CBS broadcaster Jim Nantz to jab into Rory McIlroy extra after lacking his par putt on the 18th inexperienced that might’ve gained him The Masters without having a playoff.
As McIlroy made his means out of the bunker, he had a number of toes to save lots of par and his inexperienced jacket at Augusta Nationwide Golf Membership on Sunday. However his putt stayed left and he missed on his 72nd gap of the event, forcing a sudden-death playoff with Justin Rose, who sunk a birdie on the identical inexperienced earlier to complete 11-under.
In fact, McIlroy went on to birdie the 18th in that playoff, and he was pure emotion on the inexperienced whereas patrons roared round him as he accomplished the profession Grand Slam.
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Steve Elkington tees off in the course of the 2010 PGA Championship at Whistling Straits. (Jeff Hanisch-USA Right this moment Sports activities)
However former PGA Tour professional Steve Elkington was vocal on X after listening to Nantz merely say, “We’re going to a playoff,” as McIlroy tapped in his bogey to fall to 11-under.
“That may very well be the best collapse in golf historical past & f—ing CBS says, ‘we’ve got a playoff,’” Elkington wrote on X.
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Elkington, the 62-year-old Australian, felt Nantz and the remainder of the broadcasters needed to be extra crucial of McIlroy in that second. It may’ve been an epic collapse for the person who not solely hadn’t gained The Masters, but in addition missed out on a significant victory over the past 11 years, together with a placing meltdown within the 2024 U.S. Open.
Elkington continued to critique McIlroy, saying his strategy on No. 18 from 125 yards out is about as simple because it comes for professionals.
“That was a wedge into the appropriate bunker on 18… A wedge,” he stated.
Rory McIlroy holds the Masters championship trophy at Augusta Nationwide Golf Membership. (Kyle Terada-Imagn Photos)
Whereas Elkington was crucial, there have been many who liked what Nantz and CBS had been doing in these high-stress moments, permitting the suspense to hold the printed as McIlroy labored his means by his tumultuous closing spherical.
When McIlroy buried his birdie putt within the playoff, and dropped to his knees, Nantz merely stated, “Rory has his masterpiece.” From there, virtually seven minutes glided by and not using a phrase from Nantz or anybody else, as McIlroy made his means off the inexperienced and met his household and crew for an emotional celebration.
McIlroy joined Gene Sarazen, Ben Hogan, Gary Participant, Jack Nicklaus and Tiger Woods in uncommon golf historical past as the one golfers to ever full the profession grand slam.
Ex-PGA Tour professional Steve Elkington was crucial of Jim Nantz’s name throughout Rory McIlroy’s miss on 18 at The Masters. (IMAGN)
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In the meantime, Elkington was ranked as excessive as third in his profession, successful 10 occasions on the PGA Tour, together with the 1995 PGA Championship. His greatest end at Augusta was T-Third in 1993.
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Scott Thompson is a sports activities author for Fox Information Digital.
