World unites in praise of McIlroy after momentous Masters triumph

Rory McIlroy's triumph at the Masters on Sunday was hailed on both sides of the Atlantic as the 35-year-old Northern Irishman became the first European men's player to complete a career grand slam of golf's majors.

McIlroy completed an extraordinary final day with a birdie on the opening hole of a sudden-death playoff against Justin Rose to complete the set, following earlier victories at the U.S. Open (2011), PGA Championship (2012, 2014) and Open Championship (2014).

"I think we saw one of the greatest days in golf we will ever see," Sky Sports pundit and renowned coach Butch Harmon said.

"It had an ebb and flow that a Hollywood producer could not have come up with. If you wrote a script like this, they would say it wasn't believable. He was like a gladiator in the way he came back. Did he quit? No. Did he hang his head? No. Did he feel sorry for himself? No. Now he has a Green Jacket.

"I've known Rory since he was 16, done a little work with him at times, and this is one of the most amazing victories I have ever seen."

McIlroy is the sixth man in history to complete the career grand slam, joining Gene Sarazen, Ben Hogan, Gary Player, Jack Nicklaus and Tiger Woods.

The Belfast Telegraph captured the national mood back home with the rapturous headline, "Putting man on the moon? What Rory McIlroy has just achieved is statistically even more impressive."

The daily hailed their local hero not just as the greatest sports person the country had ever produced, but also as one of the greatest in the world.

"He has the Green Jacket and grand slam to prove it. Rory Daniel McIlroy, you are something else," it said.

The front page of Britain's Daily Mail celebrated the win with the headline "Master of his Universe".

Alongside the news of