RORY McILROY has lifted the lid on the strict Green Jacket rules he had to follow after finally winning The Masters.
The 36-year-old ended years of Augusta agony by slipping on golf’s most famous blazer in 2025, and in doing so he completed the career Grand Slam 11 years after his previous major.
McIlroy became just the sixth golfer in history, and the first European, to win all four majors when he triumphed at Augusta National in April – joining legends such as Tiger Woods and Jack Nicklaus in an exclusive club.
After a year in which he also inspired Europe to a Ryder Cup win in New York, won titles at the Players Championship, Pebble Beach and the Race to Dubai, as well as being crowned BBC Sports Personality of the Year, you’d think the Green Jacket was his to enjoy the way he liked.
That wasn’t, however, the case.
The Northern Irishman revealed that The Masters champions must obey a tight set of rules.
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Speaking on Stick to Football alongside Gary Neville, Roy Keane, Jamie Carragher, Ian Wright and Jill Scott, McIlroy admitted even he isn’t free to parade golf’s most prestigious garment wherever he likes.
Asked by Neville where he keeps it, Manchester United fan McIlroy replied: “Just in my wardrobe.”
He quickly added that the privilege doesn’t last forever, saying: “No, so you’ve gotta bring it back.
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“The only person that’s allowed to bring the green jacket off the premises is the champion for a year.
“It then stays in the club, it stays in your locker.”
If you thought that was strict, it gets even tougher.
McIlroy revealed that players even have to sign a legal document before they’re allowed to take the jacket away from Augusta.
He said: “There’s do’s and don’ts with it. You have to wear a certain shirt, a club tie, and certain trousers… only dress shoes, you can’t wear trainers.”
So while McIlroy finally owns the one title that had long eluded him, the iconic jacket that comes with it remains very much under Augusta’s control.
That doesn’t take the gloss off McIlroy’s historic achievement as it cemented his place as one of the greatest British sportspeople of all-time.