'Not today kid' - When Masters champion Rory McIlroy was rejected by Manchester United hero Roy Keane

Manchester United supporter Rory McIlroy completed a career grand slam as he won The Masters title for the first time and his fifth major in total in a dramatic final round at Augusta National Golf Club in Georgia.

McIlroy won four majors in three years between 2011 and 2014 but his long wait for a fifth major finally ended on Sunday as he defeated England’s Justin Rose in an 18th-hole play-off after both men finished 11 under par after 72 holes. There were emotional scenes on the 18th green as McIlroy’s emotions poured out as he holed his birdie putt to become only the sixth man to win all four majors.

The 35-year-old from Hollywood in Northern Ireland is a big supporter of the Red Devils. On an episode of The Overlap last year, the golfer revealed how Roy Keane was one of his footballing heroes growing up.

McIlroy confronts Keane over autograph snub

On the episode, McIlroy revealed how he saw Keane at a hotel with the Republic of Ireland team and approached the former United midfielder for an autograph. Recounting the story, McIlroy said: "So I was down at the Portmarnock Links Hotel and the Irish team was staying and it was a training camp I think. And I saw one of my Man United heroes in the lobby, Roy Keane, and I went over and asked for an autograph. And he looked up at me, he was sitting down, and he goes, 'Not today, kid.' I was like, 'ok.'"

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Keane was sitting right next to McIlroy as the 2025 Masters champion told the story. The former United star responded in his own unique way, as he said: "I was probably in the zone. The only thing I would remember about that hotel, honestly, it was always like, kids around annoying the players. Here's another one."

McIlroy reacts to Masters victory

Back in 2012, United issued a public congratulations to McIlroy when he became world number one with a picture of the Northern Irishman wearing a Red Devils shirt. Reacting to his Masters victory, an emotional McIlroy said: "I would say it was 14 years in the making. A lot of pent-up emotion came out on the 18th green. A moment like that makes all the years and all the close calls worth it."

"When I hit the wedge shot into the creek on 13 I felt I did a good job of bouncing back," added McIlroy. "I was really nervous going out. It was almost as if the double bogey [at the first] calmed my nerves a little bit and got me into it. All week I responded to setbacks and that's what I'll remember. I'm so proud of that and being able to bounce back."

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