Question of the week [April 14-20]: What are your final thoughts about the 2025 Masters?
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Professional golf really needed this year’s amazing Masters storyline and its winner. Its timing for America was perfect.
Along with a television audience of just under 20 million, enhanced technology that came through with additional and more accessible viewing opportunities (streaming), the glowing reviews of the official website’s HDR picture quality, more experienced utilization of drones, great storytelling led by Jim Nantz along with a couple of new CBS production execs raising the bar ... this was the Masters’ finest week that I can recall.
Yes, there’s Jack’s win in ‘86, a special Sunday in ‘95 when we wept along with Gentle Ben after his final putt and Tiger’s “in your life” hole-hanging and dropping chip in ‘05.
But Rory’s emotions were just as raw as he struggled like a high-wired Wallenda to finally ascend in overtime as the only European to capture the Grand Slam and shake a huge monkey off of his back. We got to know Justin Rose a bit more and we not only like who we saw but are now rooting for him to win another major.
This year’s Masters week saw much cooler merch (how about those Pimento & Azalea hats rocked by the patrons) and did I see this many different generations so enthralled in a Masters tournament before? Wasn't it great to see civility, manners and reverence on display in the midst of a nation split in half over politics? Smiles all around.
The U.S. Open’s surprise Sunday finish at Pinehurst returned many back to the house of golf. This four days of Masters beauty just kicked in the door.
Steve Moore
Birmingham, Alabama
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Well played, Rory McIlroy. The final round with its ups and downs on Rory's part, for sure, foresaw the imminent collapse of Rory. It's a given. We've seen this story a million times. Rory is leading, but it's just a matter of time before he shoots himself in the foot.
The implosion hole is soon to come. Your hours of watching him for four days all down the drain because of one disastrous hole. But not this time. Each time he got knocked down, he got up and it looked like he said to himself, "I'm not going to let it happen again."
It seems like from the last major he lost to Bryson DeChambeau that there's a different attitude he's created. To me it feels like he's more determined than ever to mark his spot in the history book.
I look forward seeing him concur more of these situations and place his name amongst the very best to have played this game.
Robert Fish
Sun Lakes, Arizona
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A melodramatic final day with the hoped-for winner coming through and giving all fans a feel-good moment. Both Rory McIlroy and Justin Rose are class acts worthy of the attention and admiration they received.
Jim Fuquay
Indianapolis, Indiana
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The 2025 Masters will forever be my favorite all-time sporting event. So many stories in this one. And, for once, my guy came out on top. It was truly worth every minute I sat in front of the TV. From Wednesday’s Par 3 Contest to the last shot in sudden death. I even watched the press conferences this year, because I didn't want it to end. The only thing that would have made it over the top was if Gary Player, Jack Nicklaus and Tiger Woods had been there to welcome Rory McIlroy into the “Club.”
Sheri Molyneaux
Salem, Oregon
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One of the best golf tournaments, if not the best, for the viewing audience — ever. Ups and downs, great shots and a few awful shots. It had it all. And maybe the final outcome most of the golf world, certainly the media, wanted.
Barry Duckworth
Knoxville, Tennessee
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For me, the best moment was the grace Bryson DeChambeau showed in giving an interview for CBS after his disappointing final round. Very few pro golfers would have had the class to do so. A lasting memory.
Vinny Mooney
Poughkeepsie, New York
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I wish Rory McIlroy well. He has skill and talent to win as many as five or six more majors, but that is a lot. Nobody real good ever skips a major unless really injured, so the big names are all there, except locked in LIV hell maybe.
I would like to see Justin Rose win another major or two.
Not too much mention was made of the fact that Patrick Reed and Ludvig Aberg both booted away at least two strokes each on poor lapse of concentration.
And Rory still needs to putt more confidently. Confidence is paramount.
Donn Rutkoff
Oceanside, California
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Front: Rory McIlroy celebrates after winning the 2025 Masters in a sudden-death playoff with Justin Rose.
Photo: Fran Caffrey | Golffile