“I began to marvel if it might ever be my time,” stated McIlroy, who shot a one-over 73 on the ultimate day to tie with Rose on 11 below.
“The previous 10 years [I’ve been] coming with the burden of the Grand Slam on my shoulders and attempting to attain that.
“I’m so proud to have the ability to name myself a Masters champion.
“It has been very troublesome. And never nearly successful my subsequent main, however the profession Grand Slam.”
McIlroy’s travails have been an annual speaking level coming into the enduring event which takes place each April and is the primary of the yr’s majors.
“What are all of us going to speak about subsequent yr?” McIlroy, with a beaming smile on his face, requested the media after his victory.
“It is a dream come true. I’ve dreamt about that second for so long as I can bear in mind.
“Watching Tiger Woods in 1997, after which successful his first Inexperienced Jacket, I feel that impressed so lots of my era to wish to emulate what he did.”
English veteran Rose, who was additionally aiming for his Masters victory, courageously fought again to pressure the play-off with a final-round 66.
He had some good phrases for his long-time buddy McIlroy, earlier than revealing what he advised the brand new Masters champion on the 18th inexperienced.
“I simply stated, pay attention, this can be a historic second in golf, is not it, somebody who achieves the profession Grand Slam,” stated Rose.
“I stated it was fairly cool to have the ability to share that second with him.
“Clearly I needed to be the unhealthy man, however nonetheless, it is a momentous event for the sport of golf.”
McIlroy’s Ryder Cup team-mate Shane Lowry, who light out of rivalry on Sunday with an 81, advised BBC NI Sport: “It is large for Irish golf. It is large for everybody. I’ve had a very unhealthy day however I am delighted for him.
“He won’t have needed to say this but it surely’s genuinely been every little thing for him over the previous 10 years.”
Lowry additionally commented on X, the place Eire’s 2019 Open champion wrote: “He all the time stated to me he’d retire a contented man if he gained the Inexperienced Jacket.”
England’s Tommy Fleetwood stated it was “a really Rory McIlroy means of doing it” and no person might “have written a greater script”, including: “I could not be happier for him. He is on the high of his recreation and he is achieved one thing unimaginable.”
