The joy on McIlroy's face never left him, from the time that putt dropped on the green, to Butler Cabin, when defending champion Scottie Scheffler first helped him into the green jacket, and it stayed through the trophy presentation on the 18th green.

"My dreams have been made today," McIlroy said.

Moments later, speaking to 4-year-old daughter Poppy, he told her: "Never give up on your dreams. Never, ever give up on your dreams."

This was shaping up as another horror show for McIlroy, who in 2011 lost a four-shot lead on the final day with a 43 on the back nine, a highlight reel that now can start collecting dust.

Right when it looked as though he would throw away another major, McIlroy delivered two majestic shots when nothing less would do, two birdies that sent him to the 18th hole with a one-shot lead.

That still wasn't enough. He hit a wedge into the bunker and wound up missing a par putt for a 1-over 73 and the first Masters playoff in eight years.

Faced with more failure, McIlroy responded with another booming drive, and this wedge bounced onto the slope of the top shelf with enough spin to trickle down toward the hole, closer and closer, until it stopped three feet away from the cup.

And, when Rose missed from 15 feet, McIlroy finally sealed it.

"I just think all week how I responded to setbacks, that's what I'll take from this week," McIlroy said, though, he could have been speaking for the last decade. "Couldn't be more proud I myself for that, and being able to bounce back when I needed to."

McIlroy went 11 long years without any majors, knowing the Masters green jacket was all that kept him from joining Tiger Woods, Jack Nicklaus, Gary Player, Ben Hogan and Gene Sarazen as the only winners of golf's four professional majors.

Nicklaus and Player spoke on Thursday how they thought this was his time. Woods was among those to congratulate McIlroy and welcome him to the club.

So wild was this Sunday at Augusta National, that McIlroy set a Masters record as the first champion to make four double bogeys — two in the first round that put him seven shots behind, two in the final round that turned this into a thriller.

US Open champion Bryson DeChambeau, who beat McIlroy at Pinehurst No 2 last June, had the lead after two holes when McIlroy opened with a double bogey. DeChambeau crashed out with a pair of three-putts and two shots into the water on the back nine, closing with a 75.

Ludvig Aberg, a runner-up in his Masters debut a year ago, suddenly had a share of the lead when McIlroy fell apart in the middle of the back nine. He missed a birdie putt from the fringe to take the lead, then finished bogey-triple bogey.

McIlroy and Rose finished at 11-under 277, two shots ahead of former Masters champion Patrick Reed (69).Scheffler, trying to win the Masters for the third time in four years, never got anything going this week, and still shot 69 to finish fourth.

Rose had every reason to believe he threw away his chances on Saturday with a 75 that put him seven shots behind, and then two bogeys on the front nine. Even as he steadied himself, he was four shots back and running out of time.

He did his part in a 10-birdie round and that dramatic putt to cap it off.

McIlroy did his part, too.

Nothing was more shocking than the 13th. McIlroy played it safe, leaving himself a big target from 80 yards away and a lob wedge. He missed his mark by some 60 feet, the ball disappearing into the tributary of Rae's Creek and leading to double bogey.

Rose was on the par-3 16th, and hit his tee shot to four feet for birdie, and suddenly they were tied. Then, McIlroy hit a weak drive to the right and was blocked by pines. He didn't reach the green, didn't make the par putt and no longer had the lead.

But, he was resilient as ever — he's been like that his entire career. Seemingly in trouble left of the 15th fairway, McIlroy hit a 7-iron around the trees and onto the green to six feet. He missed the eagle putt — but the birdie still helped him regain a share of the lead. Two holes later, facing a semi-blind shot, he drilled an 8-iron and chased after it, urging it to "Go! Go! Go! Go!" And it did, barely clearing the bunker and rolling out to a two-foot putt for a birdie and a one-shot lead.

Turns out that wasn't enough, either. He was five feet from victory and badly missed the putt, leaving him facing another chance to fail.

Not this time, though.

The 35-year-old from Northern Ireland never wavered in what he came to Augusta National to do, and he leaves wearing a green jacket.

Agencies via Xinhua