Let's leave the final word to the Masters champion.

Rory McIlroy delivered this beautiful message to his daughter, Poppy, after being presented with the Green Jacket.

"Never, ever give up on your dreams. Keep coming back, keep working hard and if you put your mind to it, you can do anything," he said.

BBC Radio 5 Live

Former European Tour winner Andrew Murray on BBC 5 Live Breakfast: "How was it for me?! Well, talk about going through the wringer. I felt like I was on the first tee of a major championship myself, for four and a half hours! It was a rollercoaster, it was captivating, it had everything.

"I'm a huge fan of Rory's and he's been asked this question for 14 years. This expectation on him was incredible. It was one of the most iconic sporting moments I think I've ever witnessed."

Image source, Getty Images

Justin Rose says he has "no regrets" after his Masters play-off defeat and that it's about "fulfilling his childhood dreams".

He said: "It hurts. What are you going to do about it, though? I think I've already kicked on in my career when I finished second to Sergio [Garcia] here, played some of the best golf of my career, got to world number one.

"What do you choose to dwell on, you know what I mean? There's no point in being too despondent about it and you look at all the good stuff that got me into this situation.

"You can't skip through a career without a little bit of heartache. It's not going to happen. If you're willing to lift the big championships, you've to put yourself on the line. You have to risk feeling this way to get the reverse. It nets out.

"For me, it's just about fulfilling my childhood dreams, really, and giving everything I've got and no regrets. I think that's what it's all about for me is just trying to look under every stone, push myself as hard as I can to be the best I can be, and I think that's what being professional is."

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?

Read BBC Sport NI's Andy Gray's reflections on the six key moments that saw McIlroy win the Masters here.

Image source, Getty Images

BBC Sport NI's Stephen Watson first met Rory McIlroy when he was just 10 years old and since then he has been following the Northern Ireland player across the world in his pursuit of golfing glory.

Having been present to witness McIlroy achieve sporting greatness at Augusta this week, Stephen reflects on following the fortunes of his compatriot in the ensuing 25 years and on the privilege of having a front row seat to witness his successes.

Read Stephen's reflections on Rory's ascent to the top of the sport here.

Image source, Getty Images

This thought may be far from Rory McIlroy's mind right now, but as Masters champion he now has to design the menu for next year's champions' dinner.

Stuart has a recommendation...

So what next for Rory McIlroy?

Well the next major is just around the corner. Here's the remaining schedule of golf's majors in 2025:

• US PGA Championship, Quail Hollow, 15-18 May.
• US Open, Oakmont, Texas, 12-15 June.
• The Open, Royal Portrush in Northern Ireland, 17-20 July.

I know what you're thinking... he couldn't could he?

Reaction to McIlroy's remarkable achievement has been pouring in from far and wide:

• The Royal seal of approval
• 'Proud of you' - Tiger Woods
• 'Welcome to our club' - Gary Player
• 'It will take the world off his shoulders' - Jack Nicklaus
• 'A moment that has filled everyone back home with great pride' - Northern Ireland First Minister Michelle O'Neill
• McIlroy 'deservedly joined the highest echelon of our sport' - Darren Clarke
• 'He's silenced a lot of people' - Simon Dyson
• Nerves and cheers at McIlroy's hometown golf club
• McIlroy 'now a legend of the game' - Graeme McDowell
• 'He always said to me he'd retire a happy man if he won the Green Jacket' - Shane Lowry
• 'He's one of the greatest of all time' - Tommy Fleetwood

Rory McIlroy's compatriot and 2011 Open winner Darren Clarke told BBC Sport NI:

"I am absolutely delighted for Rory and Harry [Diamond, Rory's caddie]

"I’ve known Rory since he was 10 years old coming through my foundation and even then he was destined for greatness.

"It felt like I was almost watching my own two boys yesterday my emotions were that up and down.

"Rory has now deservedly joined the highest echelon of our sport and maybe in the whole world of sport.

Image source, Getty Images

• The career Grand Slam club
• Why was McIlroy's Grand Slam journey so special?
• The stats behind McIlroy's victory
• '14 years in the making' - McIlroy
• 'Never ever give up on your dream' - McIlroy
• 'Obviously I wanted to be the bad guy' - Rose
• McIlroy's major near misses
• More near misses...

On that note, it is time for us to recap on what has been an emotional day of reaction to an overwhelming night of sporting drama.

We hope you have enjoyed sharing the day with us, it's certainly been a pleasure and an honour to be in your company.

Right, let's see if we can sum this up with some handy links to today's top content...

More from Graeme McDowell in an interview with BBC Sport NI on his compatriot Rory McIlroy completing the Grand Slam:

"I’ve always told people he is one of the greatest players I’ve ever seen, ball striking, short game and the way he goes about playing the sport.

"Awesome to see him finally exorcise the demon that is Augusta and it was an amazing day’s golf yesterday.

"Just when you are about to flip the channel, you couldn’t even remotely leave the TV. It was an incredible back nine for all the right and wrong reasons.

"I don’t think proud even covers it, it is unfathomable what he has accomplished and he is on the wall of the greatest ever which Northern Ireland have produced. The Open at Portrush will be special and a celebration of what he has achieved."

Another of Rory McIlroy's compatriots, 2010 US Open winner Graeme McDowell has been speaking to BBC Sport NI:

"I knew he was special many, many years ago when I first met him.

"To win all four major championships, a wee lad from Northern Ireland, is crazy. It was unbelievably special and he's now a legend of the game.

"To win the Grand Slam is something most players don't even come near to touching.

"Yesterday [Sunday] was a microcosm of everything he has gone through at Augusta over the years.

"It was a rollercoaster of emotions and I feel like we all lived every shot with him.

"Just to see the outpouring of emotion from him after he beat Justin Rose in the play-off. Everything he has gone through over the last 14 or 15 years just came pouring out of him."

Image source, Getty Images

Hear, hear Luke. If you pardon the pun. To relive the best bits of 5 Live's coverage, click on the audio icon below...