McIlroy Wears Kiwi Good-Luck Charm During Masters Victory

Rory McIlroy, after an 11-year quest, finally won the Masters in 2025, completing the career Grand Slam by defeating Justin Rose in a playoff. A key part of his success was a good luck charm, a pounamu necklace gifted to him by former New Zealand Prime Minister John Key during a golf trip to Tara Iti in late 2024. McIlroy wore this sacred greenstone pendant, which holds significant spiritual meaning in Māori culture, every day while driving down Magnolia Lane at Augusta National. The pounamu symbolizes strength, prosperity, and connection with nature, and is traditionally given to New Zealand athletes as a mark of prestige. Ryan Fox, a New Zealand Tour pro who played with McIlroy during the trip, shared these details and noted that John Key even sent him a photo of McIlroy wearing the necklace. This charm helped McIlroy overcome the mental barriers and pressure that had previously hindered his Masters victory.