Six key moments that won McIlroy the Masters

Rory McIlroy fell to his knees and the tears started to come. His lifelong dream was fulfilled.

Even by the Northern Irishman's own ridiculous standards, his Grand Slam-securing Masters victory was a rollercoaster of emotions.

But, unlike his previous heartbreak at Augusta, he somehow came through all the drama to don the iconic Green Jacket for the first time.

After 280 shots over four rounds and a sudden death play-off, what were the six defining moments from McIlroy's magic Masters?

The fightback begins

McIlroy and heartbreak at the Masters seem to go hand-in-hand ever since his infamous collapse at Augusta 14 years ago.

However, he almost pulled a reverse 2011 when it wasn't his final round that fell away, but his first as he went from being in contention to ending the day seven shots behind leader Justin Rose.

But, as we've come to expect from McIlroy, he's often one of the most exciting golfers to watch when on a charge.

It was no different in his second round, when he soared back into contention after his Thursday mishap.

After an early birdie on the second, he lit up the back nine with three birdies. The highlight, though, was a superb eagle on the par-five 13th.

His tee shot landed in the tricky pinestraw, but his recovery was stunning, landing his ball on the green to set up the putt that earned two shots back.

Nobody bettered his six-under-par round of 66 and he ended the day just two shots behind leader Rose.

History-making start

McIlroy made history in his third round as he became the first player to go three-three-three-three-three-three across the first six holes at Augusta.

It was magnificent to watch as the dialled-in McIlroy stretched out a three-shot lead over the chasing pack.

The best of the lot was on the par-five second, when he chipped in for an eagle to move into the lead for the first time.

He judged the contours to perfection, chipping his ball from off the back of the green and watching it curl into the hole.

A couple of bogeys came later in the round, but McIlroy rallied and carried a two-shot lead into the final round.

Putt of redemption

After a disastrous start on Sunday, McIlroy rebounded with resilient birdies on the second and third, and he soon had a three-shot lead over DeChambeau, who struggled throughout the day.

There were many stunning shots in his final round, including a recovery shot from behind the trees down the left of the seventh. His towering wedge over the pines landed six feet from the flag.

Even McIlroy was laughing in disbelief. He missed the birdie putt but walked off with a comfortable par.

But it was the 10th hole that felt most significant. It was the hole where his collapse started in 2011 with a triple-bogey seven, but not this time.

A perfect drive was followed by a short-iron that he nailed in to 12 feet, despite dropping the club immediately after hitting the shot.

He rolled in the birdie putt to move four clear of DeChambeau, who could only make par.

It felt like a putt of redemption with chants of "Rory, Rory, Rory" echoing through the pine trees.

The shot of all shots

It's never straightforward for McIlroy on Sundays at Augusta and he soon found himself in a three-way tie for the lead with Rose and Ludvig Aberg after two bogeys and a double bogey in the space of four holes between 11 and 14.

That included an inexplicable seven on the par-five 13th after his approach shot from inside 90 yards came up short and trickled back into the water.

It looked like his difficult run would continue as he tugged his drive down the par-five 15th and left himself with more of Augusta's pines between him and the flag.

In true McIlroy fashion, he smashed a high hooking effort around the trees and his ball landed on the green and settled six feet from the hole.

His eagle attempt drifted just wide, but he still moved into the solo lead with a tap-in birdie.

The set-up was so good he even fist-pumped the air as he walked on to the green. He knew that was a big, big moment.

'Go, go, go!'

In true McIlroy fashion, there was more drama to come as Rose drew level with a huge birdie putt on the 18th, which left the Northern Irishman two holes to find a birdie of his own.

He hadn't picked up a shot on the 17th or 18th all tournament, but a stunning second shot from 180 yards on the penultimate hole gave him the perfect chance to pull clear.

McIlroy was heard begging his ball to "go, go, go!" and it landed on the green and skipped forward to about four feet.

He kept his nerve and duly knocked in the putt to take the lead with one hole left to play.

McIlroy needed a par down the last to win but, in another excruciating twist, he found a greenside bunker from the fairway with his second shot and then pushed his title-winning putt from six feet right of the hole.

The agony was etched across his face and he was forced to reset for a play-off with Rose.

You couldn't write it.

Play-off drama

Not only did McIlroy have to mentally reset after watching the Green Jacket slip from his grasp inside 72 holes, he had to watch Rose land a stunning effort on to the green on the first play-off hole to pile more pressure on.

It was sudden death down the 18th and McIlroy was in the same spot as he was in regulation play minutes earlier when he pushed his shot into the sand.

What came next was astounding. McIlroy produced another exquisite set-up shot, his ball spinning back off a slope to give himself a three-footer.

Rose still had to putt but his effort from 12 feet drifted agonisingly wide.

The left McIlroy with another putt to complete the Grand Slam and this time he held his nerve to tuck home the winning shot as the sun began to set over Augusta.

From there, 14 years worth of emotion came pouring out as his place in sporting immortality was secured.