It was supposed to be a day of celebration for Rory McIlroy.
After nearly two decades of chasing a Green Jacket, the 35-year-old finally got his hands on one, completing his career Grand Slam in dramatic fashion at Augusta National.
But not everyone was just basking in the glory of the moment.
One of ESPN’s most animated personalities, Chris “Mad Dog” Russo, had some strong opinions on how CBS handled the final round of the Masters—and he wasn’t exactly handing out praise.
A Hard-Fought Victory That Almost Slipped Away
McIlroy’s win didn’t come easy. He entered the final stretch with a commanding five-shot lead and just eight holes to go.
But as any golf fan knows, a round at Augusta is never over until the final putt drops.
Things started unraveling when he double-bogeyed the 13th hole after sending a shot into Rae’s Creek, and then dropped another shot on the 14th.
By the time he reached the 18th, it looked like the pressure was getting to him—he missed a five-foot putt that could’ve sealed the deal right there.
Instead, it went to a sudden-death playoff with Justin Rose, where McIlroy eventually pulled through.
Mad Dog Russo Blames CBS for ‘Jinxing’ Rory
While fans were on the edge of their seats, Chris Russo was less than impressed with CBS’s commentary during the round.
Appearing on First Take, the outspoken analyst went on a bit of a rant, saying CBS—and specifically Jim Nantz—kept prematurely celebrating McIlroy’s win throughout the broadcast.
“They went on and on way too early,” Russo said. “They thought it was done by hole 12, then again on 15, 16, 17.
Every time they said it was over, Rory would make another mistake.”
Russo even went as far as blaming CBS for putting unnecessary pressure on McIlroy, claiming, “You can’t do that with Rory. He’s not Jack [Nicklaus] or Tiger [Woods]. He’s unpredictable—and that’s why he’s exciting.”
Fans Echo the Sentiment on Social Media
It turns out Russo wasn’t alone in his opinion. Many golf fans on social media echoed the same sentiment, saying CBS’s running commentary almost felt like a jinx.
Several viewers called out the network for assuming McIlroy had it in the bag, even when the scorecard said otherwise.
Russo joked that fans were shouting “Shut up!” at the broadcast team, annoyed at how often the win was being declared before the final stroke.
A Poignant Interview and One Notable Omission
After the dust settled and McIlroy finally secured his Masters victory, he sat down for a post-match interview with CBS reporter Amanda Balionis—who, interestingly, has been rumored to be more than just a colleague.
During the conversation, McIlroy got heartfelt, talking about the people who supported him through his long journey.
He mentioned his parents, longtime friend and caddy Harry Diamond, and most touchingly, his daughter Poppy.
“I want her to be proud. I want her to see what hard work and never giving up can lead to,” McIlroy said.
“Seventeen years I’ve been chasing this. Hopefully, she saw that today.”
But one person was noticeably absent from his list of supporters—his wife Erica.
Her name wasn’t brought up at all, which didn’t go unnoticed by fans and media alike.
A Career Milestone and a Life Lesson
Despite all the drama—on the course and in the commentary booth—McIlroy’s win will go down in history.
It wasn’t just a career-defining moment, it was a masterclass in perseverance.
“For any young boy or girl watching,” McIlroy said, “never give up on your dreams. If you put in the work, it’ll happen.”
After 17 years of heartbreak at Augusta, Rory finally got his fairy tale ending.
Even if it came with a few unexpected plot twists.