Watch: Rory McIlroy's daughter sinks crazy putt at Masters

Rory McIlroy with his daughter, Poppy. Michael Madrid-Imagn Images

Watch: Rory McIlroy's 4-year-old daughter sinks crazy putt at Masters

By Steve DelVecchio | Last updated Apr 10, 2025 9:58 AM ET

Rory McIlroy is hoping to finally capture the elusive green jacket at the 2025 Masters, and his week could not be off to a better start.

McIlroy took part in the annual Par 3 Contest on Wednesday at Augusta National Gold Club. His daughter Poppy served as his honorary caddie, but the four-year-old proved that she is fully capable of much more than just following her dad around the course.

Poppy took a celebrity shot on the 9th hole of the contest. With partner and friend Shane Lowry watching, Rory had his daughter step in and attempt a lightning-fast putt down a hill. The youngster hit the putt with perfect pace and watched it roll right into the cup.

Poppy McIlroy converts the lengthy putt on No. 9! #themasters pic.twitter.com/6Vfkfxm3v7
— The Masters (@TheMasters) April 9, 2025

That was one of the best putts we will see all week at the Masters.

McIlroy was interviewed by ESPN's Marty Smith earlier in the broadcast of the Par 3 Contest. The 35-year-old spoke about how he enjoys the event more and more every year.

"It's just a really nice way and a relaxed way to go into business end of the week," McIlroy said, via John Leuzzi of USA Today. "As time has gone along and Poppy has gotten a little bit bigger, I look forward to this day more and more each and every year. Just to see the excitement on her face this morning knowing it was going to be Par 3 (is great). It is such a fun afternoon."

That was before Poppy drained the long putt, so you can imagine how McIlroy must feel about the Par 3 Contest now.

McIlroy has seven top-10 finishes at the Masters in 16 tries. He infamously collapsed at the tournament in 2011 after taking a four-shot lead into the final round. Rory finished tied for 22nd at Augusta last year.

The McIlroy family is hoping that Poppy's putt is a sign of what's to come over the weekend.

Steve DelVecchio

Steve is a veteran writer who has covered a variety of sports and pop culture topics for more than 15 years. In addition to Yardbarker, his work has been featured on prominent digital publications including Larry Brown Sports, MSN and FOX Sports. The UConn graduate has published more than 40,000 stories and is one of the most experienced trending news writers in the country

More must-reads: