Masters Drama: McIlroy's Wild Ride to Grand Slam Glory Captivated the World.

30 April 2025

“When [Rory McIlroy] got up in the Masters press conference after he won the green jacket, the first thing he said when he sat down, he said, all right, what are we going to talk about next year?”
It took 11 years, but Rory McIlroy has now joined Tiger Woods, Jack Nicklaus, Gary Player, Ben Hogan and Gene Sarazen - the only male golfers to have won all four of the tournaments that matter most. In the golfing world, they call it the Grand Slam. The Northern Irish golfer had won the men's game's three other majors - US Open, Open Championship and US PGA Championship - by the end of 2014. Now, aged 35, he is without a shadow of a doubt one of golf’s all-time greats.
The narrative arc spanned more than a decade; and its final chapter, across the four days at Augusta, was masterfully broadcast by Tod Harris’ guest Sellers Shy, the Co-ordinating producer for CBS Sports Golf Coverage.
Getting an event like this on the air is no mean feat.
“It is a sun-up to sundown operation. I probably arrive at 5 a.m. for about 10 days, 11 days in a row and leave around dark each night.”
For a story of this calibre, the hours, the logistics, the investment in staff, in planning, and in navigating some 35-40 18-wheelers into position for an on-site production centre and studio, all that is worth it. Bear in mind, though, that golf fans, journalists and broadcasters had been expecting this for a long, long time and there was no guarantee that the event would pan out as it did.
“The other five that won the career Grand Slam, Gene Saracen, Tiger Woods, Ben Hogan, Gary Player, Jack Nicklaus, it took them from one to three attempts to win the career Grand Slam. And then you have Rory sitting out here now in his 11th. And so, I can't tell you how many storylines there were between the young phenomenon, now the veteran, trying to complete something that everyone thought would have happened six, seven, eight, nine, 10 years ago.”
As for the Masters itself, that was far from plain-sailing for McIlroy. Oh no. It was touch and go, keeping the fans, and the broadcasters, on tenterhooks.
“There were so many layers to this tournament and to his career that we had to document and make it exciting for every fan that was wanting Rory McIlroy to accomplish an incredible feat.
“He had a lead, specifically to the weekend, he had a lead and then all of sudden gives it up.”

In fact, the Northern Irishman made four double bogeys. With almost anyone else, that would be it. But Shy and his team knew it wasn’t over until it was over. And the drama of the final day kept viewers glued to their screens.
“With Rory making, four double bogeys, if anybody could do it, Rory, Rory could do it. It had never happened before, but he has such another gear, that, never, never give up on him. And that's what I think, you know, you go back to ratings, you go back to popularity of Sunday, excitement, roller coaster, dramatic, all the, all the adjectives.

“I think where we really captured everyone was that Rory, the third shot at 13, he turned into a human being. I think the pressure was real because he had an 86 yard shot to the left part of the green and it's over. And I think the fringe golf fan had a toe going out the door because he has it in the bag.
“He has the green jacket that he's always wanted. He had the career of Grand Sam that he's always wanted. And next thing you know, he puts it into Rays Creek and that fringe golfer that was heading out the door, maybe changed their plans. Everybody went to the couch and everyone sat down in front of the television to see this unfold.”
Ultimately, it went to a tie break between McIlroy and Justin Rose. Edge of your seat stuff. McIlroy, of course, came out on top, and claimed that elusive major as well as the game’s greatest triumph.
The coverage, too, was a triumph – but like any sportsperson or team, Shy and CBS continue to look forwards.
“We have a thousand people in our compound that we're responsible for. A thousand people have to be in sync to make this go. And you know, you're appreciative of the position you're in and then, okay, so then the dust settles and you're thinking, how can we top it? And I don't know. It's a good feeling to have. I'm at peace where we are right now. You're always wanting to improve and find those little areas. And we'll do that.”