Gary Lineker makes Rory McIlroy feelings clear after Masters win and reveals why he's such a fan Rory McIlroy ended his long wait for a green jacket by winning the Masters last Sunday, with Gary Lineker among the millions watching on with bated breath Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland holds the trophy after the final round of Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club on April 13, 2025. (Image: Photo by Ben Jared/PGA TOUR via Getty Images ) Gary Lineker has heaped praise on Rory McIlroy after his thrilling Masters victory, describing it as "mesmerising". The former England striker also shared a chance encounter he had with the Northern Irish golf sensation when McIlroy was still a young prodigy. An avid golfer himself, Lineker was among the millions captivated by McIlroy's play-off win over Justin Rose, which finally ended his Masters drought. Interestingly, it was another golfing great who facilitated Lineker's meeting with McIlroy many years ago. ‌ Lineker professed to being "a massive Rory fan" after his The Rest Is Football co-host Micah Richards lauded the golfer's latest achievement. The Leicester City icon then reminisced about his time playing golf with Darren Clarke at Queenwood Golf Club in Surrey, where a young McIlroy made a memorable appearance. "Many, many years ago, I used to play quite a lot with Darren Clarke, a great golfer himself," Lineker recounted. "And he said, 'Can you play tomorrow?' I went, 'Yeah, yeah, I'm around.' "And he said, 'I've got this young boy coming who's gonna be the next giant of golf!' I said, 'Really?' He went, 'Yeah, a 14-year-old.' So I get there, and it's Rory. Rory McIlroy. Article continues below "So I played with this kid. Oh, my god. This tiny little kid, 14, and he was just ripping it. He shot like 69 or something, from the back tees! So I've always followed his career subsequently, and he's had so many ups and downs. I think the whole nation was desperate for him to do it [win the Masters]." Sky Sports' figures point to the magnitude of the event, as they reported Sunday's final round as the broadcaster's most watched day ever. The climax at Augusta captivated a peak audience of 1.85 million, with 37% of the UK viewers dipping in at some point during the day. "Imagine the pressure on him because 'It's the one that's missing,'" Lineker said. "And then you get people over the years saying, 'Aw, he's a choker.' Absolutely [not], they have no idea. No idea what it must be like to undergo that kind of pressure. And to come through all that, and with so many ups and downs on the final day. ‌ "It was the most mesmerising, horrific, torturous watch that I've ever done. But in the end it was completely magnificently magical!". Football legend Alan Shearer also joined in the chorus, deeming Sunday's showdown "entertainment at its very best". Lineker shared his own nail-biting experience of the dramatic day, witnessed amidst his family, complete with the emotional rollercoaster brought on by McIlroy's intermittent shakes in performance. "Honestly, it was like somebody had lost their life on 13 [when McIlroy double-bogeyed]," he continued. ‌ "[Imitates pulling hair out] 'No, no! What've you done? You could've put it anywhere!' But at the end, it was like Leicester won the league again! We were all dancing around, all of us hugging and crying! It was beautiful watching." The trio of ex-footballers also praised play-off runner-up Rose, with Shearer describing him as a "class act." Richards even named Rose his "favourite" player of the tournament, following what could have been a career-defining win. Article continues below Before the tournament, Lineker expressed his support for McIlroy on Stephen Hendry's Cue Tips, hoping that the golfer would triumph in Georgia. The former England star confessed he would "love him to win it" and acknowledged being a "massive fan" of the Holywood-born player. Their relationship dates back some 20 years, thanks to Clarke. Lineker inadvertently gained insight into arguably the greatest golfer of this generation, a narrative solidified when McIlroy finally donned his first green jacket.