McIlroy rebounded from a shaky third round to claim his second straight green jacket at Augusta.
Rory McIlroy has entered rare company at Augusta National. On Sunday, the Northern Irishman captured his second consecutive Masters Tournament, joining Tiger Woods, Jack Nicklaus, and Nick Faldo as the only golfers to win back-to-back green jackets.
McIlroy began the week in dominant fashion, shooting a blistering 65 in the second round to open a six-stroke lead. But a third-round stumble — a 1-over 73 — left him tied with Cameron Young heading into Sunday. Facing whispers of another Augusta collapse, McIlroy steadied himself on the back nine, carding three birdies between holes 8 and 13 to pull away.
He closed with a final-round 71 to finish at 11-under, securing his second Masters title in as many years. Scottie Scheffler finished runner-up, while Young tied for third alongside Justin Rose and two others.
“I just can’t believe I waited 17 years to get one green jacket, and I get two in a row,” McIlroy said on CBS. “All of my perseverance at this golf tournament has really started to pay off.”
The victory marks a dramatic turnaround for McIlroy, who had endured heartbreak at Augusta in 2011 and 2018. Instead of another painful loss, he now stands among the sport’s all-time greats.
“Having a six-shot lead going into the weekend, it would have been a bitter pill to swallow if I didn’t get it done,” McIlroy admitted. “I don’t make it easy.”
With his second straight Masters, McIlroy has cemented his place in golf history — and silenced any doubts about his ability to conquer Augusta.