Rory McIlroy revealed ex-Masters champion Angel Cabrera left a note in his locker before his triumph at Augusta on Sunday.
The Northern Irishman finally completed the career grand slam at the 11th attempt – banishing demons that have lived with him for 14 years.
McIlroy infamously squandered a four-shot lead during the final round of the 2011 Masters, carding a disastrous 80 and ending up in a tie for 15th.
Playing alongside him that day was 2009 champion Cabrera.
The Argentine returned to the Masters this year for the first time since 2019 after serving two-and-a-half years in prison.
And speaking on Sunday night, McIlroy said: “You know, since 2011, I think it’s so ironic, as well. I got to my locker this morning and I opened it up, and there was a note in there from Angel Cabrera, and just wishing me luck.
“And Angel Cabrera was the player I played with on the final day in 2011, it was a nice touch and a little bit ironic at the same time.
“It’s been 14 long years, but thankfully I got the job done.”
Cabrera was jailed in 2021 after being found guilty of assault and intimidation against two of his ex-partners.
The 55-year-old’s failure to appear in an Argentinian court triggered an Interpol warrant for his arrest, which eventually happened in Rio de Janeiro.
He then spent five months inside a Brazilian jail before he was transferred back to his home country and was imprisoned at the Carcel de Bouwer.
Besides Cabrera, McIlroy received overwhelming support from the golfing community after a rollercoaster Sunday at Augusta.
The world no.2 was forced to overcome two double-bogeys and missed a six-foot putt to win the tournament in regulation, before eventually downing Justin Rose on the first hole of a sudden-death play-off.
His close friend Shane Lowry said: “This means everything to him.
“This is all he thinks about, all he talks about. He always said to me he’d retire a happy man if he won the green jacket, so I told Erica (McIlroy’s wife) he can retire now.
“He’s had a long 10, 11 years, he’s had a lot of hurdles to get over and it’s a credit to him.”
Meanwhile, fellow Ryder Cup star Tommy Fleetwood said: “I’ve said it a bunch of times, I think Rory is the best player of our generation. I don’t think he’s had to prove that for a while.
“For him to have finally got this one, a career grand slam, is unbelievably special. I think this time was always going to come, it’s just Rory makes you feel like it’s not going to at some point.
“Whatever he did today, Rory’s place in golf (history) was secure, but this has just added another layer on top of that.
“I do believe he’s the best of our generation and now he’s one of the greatest of all time.”
