Tennis legend Rafael Nadal was among those fortunate to witness Rory McIlroy win The Masters for a second time.
McIlroy showed Nadal-like mental strength to get over the line at Augusta National, having blown a record six-shot lead.
He recovered on the final day of the tournament to win by one shot, following on from his victory in a playoff at the 2025 edition.
Now a six-time major champion, McIlroy has just received a message from 22-time major champion Nadal after his trip to Augusta.
Rafael Nadal congratulates Rory McIlroy on ‘incredible’ win at The Masters
Sharing images of his time in Georgia, Nadal posted on his Instagram: “Back in Spain after very special days at The Masters.
“Congratulations Rory McIlroy on your second victory at one of the most iconic places in sport.
“Winning your sixth major at Augusta is truly an incredible achievement.
“It was a privilege to be there and witness it live!”
He has just followed in the footsteps of two fellow tennis icons, with Carlos Alcaraz and Novak Djokovic congratulating McIlroy on his stunning achievement shortly after he lifted the trophy.
Nadal understandably loved having a front row seat at Augusta, where the winner battled a star-studded field and plenty of pressure to retain his green jacket.
He finished his tournament on 12-under, with Scheffler solo second on 11-under, while Tyrrell Hatton, Cameron Young, Russell Henley and Justin Rose tied for third on 10-under.
Why Rafael Nadal can empathise with Rory McIlroy
Nadal is an avid golfer, although he will, of course, be remembered most fondly for his efforts on the tennis court.
Like McIlroy, he is a career grand slam champion in his former profession, having also reached number one in the world rankings.
He will, therefore, know exactly what it took for McIlroy to emerge victorious at The Masters once again, and indeed for all of his other superb successes.
Such empathy can be drawn from the remarkable career heights they’ve hit and Nadal’s passion for golf, along with the similar nature of their sports.
Both individual sports, tennis and golf can be closely compared, with both endeavours also involving great technical detail and many hours of repetition of the same shots.
Sharing out his success fairly evenly across the four majors, McIlroy now has two titles at The Masters, along with two at the PGA Championship and one each at the US Open and The Open Championship.
In stark contrast, Nadal clinched 14 of his 22 Grand Slam titles at the French Open, which is more than any other player in tennis history.
The Spanish superstar also won the US Open four times, and the Australian Open and Wimbledon twice each.
Read more:
Rafael Nadal says if he likes the no cell phone rule at Augusta National
Rory McIlroy’s next goal in golf is clear after his win at The Masters
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
