Rory McIlroy during the Green Jacket Ceremony after winning the 2025 Masters. - © Richard Heathcote

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When 2025 Masters champion Rory McIlroy visited Borussia Dortmund's Yellow Wall

16.01.2025

Prior to winning the 2025 Masters, Rory McIlroy made the most of his recent off-season by joining Borussia Dortmund fans for the Matchday 16 encounter against Bayer Leverkusen at Signal Iduna Park.

McIlroy joined an exclusive club by sealing his 2025 Masters title on Monday. The 35-year-old from Northern Ireland became only the sixth man and the first European to win a career Grand Slam of Masters, Open Championship, US Open and US PGA Championship titles.

That success may not have been possible without a recent two-month break from golf that helped him refocus and relax away from the course. After the conclusion of the DP World Tour 2024 back in November, McIlroy took time off. Instead of swing analysis and putting drills, the passionate Manchester United fan unwound, even coming to Germany to take in a Bundesliga match.

"I tried to have fun," McIlroy explained. "In my free time I went on a few trips. One Friday evening I went to a Borussia Dortmund game. I just did things that I always wanted to do."

Said fixture was the Black-and-Yellows' 3-2 home reverse against Bayer Leverkusen in the teams' first game back following the winter break. McIlroy found himself in the middle of the legendary Yellow Wall - the 25,000 capacity south stand at Dortmund that is known around the world for its incredible atmosphere.

A year that started on a bright note for McIlroy, with an unforgettable stadium experience in Dortmund, has got better and better. For the fourth time, the Northern Irishman was named Player of the Year by the members of the DP World Tour. He then completed golf's historic Grand Slam by winning the 2025 Masters in Augusta, Georgia on Monday.

"It's an honour of a lifetime to be standing here," he said following the latter victory. "I've dreamt about this moment for so long and I can't wait to be here again next year – hopefully putting the Green Jacket back on myself!"

While visiting the Yellow Wall is already on the bucket lists of millions of football fans worldwide, McIlroy might have just given the pilgramage a whole new level of importance.

After all, it may have just played an indirect role in the icon's latest glory.