Rory McIlroy has revealed a 'really awkward' parking predicament he faced with Justin Rose at Augusta National last year, before the Northern Irishman went on to win the Masters and complete the career Grand Slam.
Speaking ahead of this year's tournament, McIlroy described pulling up Magnolia Lane and hesitating about where to park. As a former champion, Rose had access to the premium champions' parking spot, but McIlroy, not yet a winner, did not.
'I was like, Well, do I go and park way over at the parking lot? Because I'm not going to park in the champions parking lot,' McIlroy told reporters. He added that the champions were having cocktails on the balcony, making him self-conscious about being seen parking elsewhere.
The awkward moment was short-lived: McIlroy and Rose went on to contest an iconic playoff at the 2025 Masters, with McIlroy ending his 11-year major drought and Rose falling just short of a first major in 12 years.
This year, McIlroy returned as reigning champion, enjoying perks such as designing the champions dinner. He served yellowfin tuna carpaccio, wagyu filet mignon or seared salmon, and sticky toffee pudding, deliberately avoiding an overly Irish menu to ensure his own enjoyment.
