Tiger Woods was among the first to congratulate Rory McIlroy on winning the Masters, welcoming him to an exclusive club of men's players to have won golf's Grand Slam.
The 35-year-old from Northern Ireland has became only the sixth man and the first European to win the career Grand Slam of Masters, Open Championship, US Open and US PGA Championship titles.
Woods, a 15-time major winner, had been the last player to win the Grand Slam in 2000, joining Americans Jack Nicklaus (1966) Ben Hogan (1953), Gene Sarazan (1935) and South Africa's Gary Player (1965).
"Welcome to the club," five-time Masters winner Woods wrote on X.
" Completing the Grand Slam at Augusta is something special. Your determination during this round, and this entire journey has shown through, and now you're a part of history. Proud of you."
McIlroy regrouped from missing a putt which would have secured victory on the 18th to beat England's Justin Rose in a sudden-death play-off on Sunday.
The long-awaited triumph at Augusta National came almost 11 years after he won the fourth major of his career at the 2014 US PGA.
Nicklaus, 85, the winner of a record 18 majors and six Masters titles, said on America's CBS: "I'm so happy for him. It will take the world off his shoulders and you're now going to see a lot more of really good golf out of Rory McIlroy."
Player, at 89 the oldest living member of the now six-strong Grand Slam club, wrote on X: "We are proud to add Rory to our exclusive club and no doubt he has set the standard for his era.
"It was 11 years ago when Rory first started the final leg of his career Grand Slam journey. And throughout this time, he's carried himself with class, led with principle, and played with passion. For him to finally don the Green Jacket is a moment to be celebrated by fans around the world."
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'I wondered if it would ever be my time'
"I started to wonder if it would ever be my time," said McIlroy, who shot a one-over 73 on the final day to tie with Rose on 11 under.
"The past 10 years [I've been] coming with the burden of the Grand Slam on my shoulders and trying to achieve that.
"I am so proud to be able to call myself a Masters champion.
"It's been very difficult. And not just about winning my next major, but the career Grand Slam."
McIlroy's travails have been an annual talking point coming into the iconic tournament which takes place every April and is the first of the year's majors.
"What are we all going to talk about next year?" McIlroy, with a beaming smile on his face, asked the media after his victory.
"It's a dream come true. I have dreamt about that moment for as long as I can remember.
"Watching Tiger Woods in 1997, and then
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