Players at the Masters have a unique tradition: signing the tournament's iconic yellow flags. However, only the champion gets to inscribe their name within the outline of the United States featured prominently on the flag.
After a long wait, Rory McIlroy finally had his moment. Following his Masters win in April 2025, he seized the opportunity to sign not just a few, but 1,100 pin flags. Speaking to reporters on August 19, ahead of the Tour Championship, McIlroy shared that he purchased all the remaining flags from the gift shop.
“And we took all 1,100,” he stated confidently, noting that he has already signed “a lot” of them. “But I’ll never get sick of signing them. I’ve waited 17 years to sign that flag in the middle, and I will never complain about doing it,” he added.
While McIlroy enthusiastically signs flags, he admits he hasn’t worn the coveted green jacket as often as he anticipated. “I’m reluctant to wear it,” he confessed. “It’s not as if I wear it a lot. I have it hanging in my wardrobe in a place where I can see it every day.”
The green jacket, awarded annually to the Masters champion, is kept for a year before being returned to Augusta National Golf Club. Although it remains the winner’s property, they can only take it out of the clubhouse while they are the reigning champion.
Reflecting on his expectations, McIlroy remarked, “I always thought if I had one — if I did win the Masters one day — I’d never have the thing off,” adding that reality has proven different. “I haven’t worn it as much as I thought I would.”
On the night of his victory, McIlroy wore the jacket until around 3:30 a.m., but since then, it has mostly rested over a chair in his home. He has donned it on rare occasions, such as during the Association of Golf Writers’ dinner at the British Open.
Looking ahead, McIlroy is eager for future visits to Augusta. “It’ll be lovely to next time go there and go up to the champions locker room and put on my green jacket and feel like I belong,” he expressed with anticipation.
