'McIlroy in the conversation to be Europe's greatest golfer'

The clubhouse clock was ticking towards 11pm on the night of Rory McIlroy's greatest day in golf.

In the hours that followed his dramatic play-off win over Justin Rose to land his first Masters Green Jacket, the Northern Irishman talked and talked and talked.

First to CBS's Jim Nantz and Augusta chairman Fred Ridley in the Butler Cabin, then to the assembled for the formal prize presentation. Then numerous television interviews, the media in the sumptuous press building.

Then to the clubhouse, where he ed club in the Grill Room to discuss the dramatic preceding hours that had captivated the sporting world. And then more television interviews.

Eventually he emerged into an adjacent room where we had been waiting - BBC Northern Ireland's Stephen Watson and RTE's Greg Allen - colleagues with whom I've shared so much time covering McIlroy's extraordinary career.

As he entered the room, the new Masters champion saw us waiting, puffed out his cheeks, leaned forward resting his elbows on the back of a sofa and gave us a look that said it all.

Wordlessly his eyes said: "Can you believe what has happened? What is happening"Graphic image of, from left to right, Alex Albon, George Russell, Max Verstappen, Lewis Hamilton, Lando Norris, Fernando Alonso and Oliver Bearman. It is on a blue background with 'Fan Q&A' below the drivers " loading="lazy" src="https://image.staticox.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fichef.bbci.co.uk%2Face%2Fstandard%2F480%2Fsprodpb%2F7ff9%2Flive%2Fd42302e0-34b3-11f0-8519-3b5a01ebe413.jpg" width="385" height="216" class="ssrcss-11yxrdo-Image edrdn950"/>