What Rory McIlroy’s Masters win taught me about marriage

As I watched the final round of the 2025 Masters this weekend, I couldn’t help but think of you—of all of us who are fighting for something sacred: our marriages.

This year, Rory McIlroy wasn’t just playing for the green jacket. He was playing to make history.
A win at Augusta would crown him with the elusive Career Grand Slam—a feat achieved by only five other golfers in history.
And after 17 appearances at the Masters, it all came down to this one tournament.

Over four days, the highs and lows were unreal:

• Day one: a rocky start.

• By Sunday: Rory was up by four, then tied, then back ahead, then… a missed putt that should’ve sealed the win.
  One stroke. One moment. And just like that, he was headed into a playoff.

You’d expect panic. Frustration. Maybe even defeat.

But Rory stayed calm. Poised. Focused.
And in that final hole of the playoff—he made the putt.
The crowd erupted. Rory dropped to his knees, overcome.
You could see the emotion of every year, every disappointment, every early morning, every swing—it was all there in that final moment of victory.

What made this win so powerful wasn’t just the trophy.

It was:

• The grind.

• The comeback.

• The pressure.

• The resilience.

It reminded me so much of marriage.

Marriage isn’t one perfect round of golf.
It’s an entire tournament.

Sometimes you’re up by four.
Sometimes you miss the easy putt.
Sometimes the “competition” you think you’re fighting (the circumstances, the disagreements, the tension) disappears—
and someone or something unexpected shakes things up.
Sometimes you feel in control—
and sometimes it feels like everything’s slipping.

But when you stay in it...
When you don’t give up...
When you trust your foundation, your years of preparation, your why...
The reward is so much sweeter.

Rory could’ve quit years ago.
He could’ve walked away after a dozen tries.
But he didn’t.

And guess who was there at the green jacket ceremony?
His wife. His daughter.
After pulling back from divorce just this year, he publicly shared that they’ve chosen to stay together—
and you could see the meaning of that choice as they celebrated as a family.

So today, I want to remind you:

The wins in marriage are sweeter when they’re earned.

If you’re in a hard season right now—don’t give up.
The next chapter might be your greatest comeback.

If you’re in a good place—be grateful, and reach back to encourage another couple who’s still in their playoff.

Because:

• A win that comes easy is forgettable.

• But a win that comes after the fight?
  That’s the kind that changes you.

Marriage is a long game—and those who stay in it become masters.

Forward this to someone who needs a little encouragement in their marriage today—
you never know what one email can spark.