Rory McIlroy can breathe a sigh of reduction.
Subscribe to learn this story ad-free
Get limitless entry to ad-free articles and unique content material.
McIlroy gained his second straight Masters Event on Sunday — becoming a member of Tiger Woods, Jack Nicklaus and Nick Faldo as the one golfers who’ve gained the game’s most prestigious event two years in a row.
McIlroy led by six strokes after 36 holes, however entered Sunday tied for first after a disastrous third spherical. In peril of blowing the most important two-round lead in Masters historical past, McIlroy rebounded beneath stress, capturing a final-round 70 to safe his second inexperienced jacket.
Scottie Scheffler completed in second. Cameron Younger — who was within the ultimate pairing with McIlroy — completed tied for third with three others, together with final 12 months’s runner-up Justin Rose.
McIlroy was dominant to begin at Augusta. Selecting up the place he left off in 2025 — when he defeated Rose in a playoff to win his first Masters — McIlroy was 12-under after two rounds, capturing a blistering 65 within the second spherical to open a six-stroke lead over the remainder of the sector. However he stumbled within the third, capturing a 1-over 73 to fall to 11-under and right into a tie with Younger for first place.
Amid whispers McIlroy may repeat a few of his worst losses at Augusta, he got here again with a vengeance Sunday. He was sensible as his ultimate spherical went on, hitting three birdies between holes eight and 13 to present himself a cushion he would by no means relinquish down the stretch.
McIlroy had a tortured profession at Augusta previous to the final two years. He misplaced as a part of the ultimate pairing in each 2011 and 2018. A loss Sunday would have echoed among the lowest moments of McIlroy’s in any other case storied profession.
As an alternative, it was a repeat of his most spectacular accomplishment as a professional. And now, as a substitute of an historic loss, McIlroy has entered a brand new, rarified tier as one in all golf’s all-time greats.
It is a creating story. Please verify again for updates.
