In the 2025 Masters, Rory McIlroy shot 277 in 72 holes at Augusta National. That alone was enough to qualify for the playoffs, and he only needed three more swings to make history and complete a career grand slam. If you look back over the past 12 months, there are probably two or three shots that McIlroy hit. It could be your second shot on Sunday’s 15th hole, your approach to the 18th hole in a playoff, or your chip shot approach to your third hole on Sunday.
But what was his best shot?
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Thanks to DataGolf’s live stats tool, I scoured all 277 shots, looked at the strokes gained value of each shot, and created a list of the five shots that were statistically the best for Rory on his way to victory at the Masters.
5. Round 3, approach number 15
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After posting a 5-under back nine on Friday, McIlroy took control of the tournament on Saturday. Having taken the lead early on the front nine, he maintained his momentum into the late afternoon, highlighted by this incredible approach to the 15th hole. Setting up with a 330-yard drive, the 35-year-old pulled within 5 feet with just 200 yards to the par-5. He was going to make the eagle putt and clear the fourth move.
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Number of strokes: +1.01
• • • 4. Round 4, approach number 15
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I promise not every shot listed is from the 15th hole. But it’s worth it. McIlroy called this shot “one of the best shots I’ve ever hit in my career,” and it’s probably the first thing that comes to mind for most fans. With a double bogey on the 13th hole and a bogey on the 14th hole, McIlroy lost the lead for the first time in 30 holes. His drive on the 15th was long but went left, and the trees seemed to be preventing him from hitting the green in two. Aiming about 50 yards to the right of the green, McIlroy went for it anyway, hitting a 7-iron from 207 yards that hooked around the pines and landed in front of the green, stopping just 7 feet from the hole.
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“It’s a once-in-a-lifetime shot,” Jim Nantz said on the broadcast.
McIlroy missed the putt, but made birdie to (temporarily) regain the lead. And this shot will live on as the final highlight of his remarkable week at Augusta.
Number of strokes: +1.02
• • • 3. Round 4 17 Approach
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Now, on the 71st hole of the tournament, McIlroy was once again tied with Justin Rose, who had just birdied the 18th hole. McIlroy later admitted he had been struggling with his tee shot on No. 17 all week, but opted for a 3-wood and set himself well back off the tee. He was one of only two players to hit his tee shot less than 260 yards Sunday with 197 yards left to the hole. McIlroy used a hard 8-iron between clubs. The shot, which launched high into the air on the approach, bounced forward several inches past the false front and finished just two feet from the hole.
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In the end, McIlroy dropped a shot on the 72nd hole, forcing a playoff, but some believe this was the shot that clinched the tournament for McIlroy.
Number of strokes: +1.10
• • • 2. Round 2 13 Approach
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This shot from the eventual champion on Friday afternoon has been forgotten by many. McIlroy, who had two double bogeys late Thursday, started the second round in seventh place. He finished the turn at 1 under and needed something to happen on the back nine to join the chase. He had 10 birdies, then 11 birdies and 12 pars before finding pine straw off the tee on the par-5 13th.
It was 190 yards to the front of the green and 202 yards to the pin. McIlroy, who was again debating between clubs with his caddy Harry Diamond whether to hit it with a 4-iron or a 5-iron, told the media he chose the longer club because he felt the ball would come off the pine straw with more spin. He was pleased with his success when his ball stretched inches onto the green and he made a 10-foot eagle putt, moving him into the top 10 for the first time at 5 under.
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Number of strokes: +1.26
• • • 1. Chip on 2, round 3
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I don’t think this is the shot you expected to be at the top of this list. In the end, this was McIlroy’s first solo lead. After birdieing the first hole Saturday, McIlroy hit the approach to the par-5 second hole between the green and Patron. Facing a tricky shot with the green moving away, McIlroy pulled his wedge and hit a high, spinning chip that landed on the green, checked and drifted toward the hole. As the guests slowly rose from their seats, the ball disappeared into the eagle hole.
McIlroy never lost the lead again.
Number of strokes: +1.36
