AUGUSTA, Ga. — Rory McIlroy is a two-time Masters champion, repeating at Augusta National after a tense Sunday that tested him differently than last year’s tearful finish.
McIlroy surrendered a six-shot lead in the third round and found himself trailing Cameron Young and Justin Rose on a dramatic final day, then answered with key birdies around Amen Corner to retake control. His repeat joins an exclusive list of consecutive champions that includes Tiger Woods, Nick Faldo and Jack Nicklaus. “I thought it was so difficult to win last year because of trying to win the Masters and the Grand Slam, and then this year I realized it’s just really difficult to win the Masters,” McIlroy said after holding on for a one-shot victory over Scottie Scheffler. “Just incredible.”
Sunday was a study in nerves and recovery. McIlroy’s wedge barely cleared the false front at the par-5 15th, he saved par with a putt from behind the 16th green that hooked down to inches, and he chipped for par at 17. Needing to protect a two-shot lead on 18, his tee shot drifted toward the 10th fairway; he then hit an 8-iron around trees into a bunker, blasted out to 12 feet and two-putted for bogey, posting a 1-under 71. He finished at 12-under 276 and celebrated with raised arms after keeping his promise to don the green jacket himself — this year presented by Augusta National chairman Fred Ridley, the first time the chairman has performed the honor since Tiger Woods’ back-to-back in 2002.
The win gives McIlroy six major titles, tying him with Nick Faldo, Lee Trevino and Phil Mickelson, and strengthens his bond with Augusta following last year’s career Grand Slam. He seized momentum with a gutsy 9-iron over Rae’s Creek to 7 feet for birdie at the par-3 12th and followed with a booming 350-yard drive on the par-5 13th to set up another birdie and extend his lead to three shots.
President Donald Trump sent congratulations on social media during his flight back to Washington, calling McIlroy “more and more a LEGEND!” McIlroy’s next start is expected to be the Cadillac Championship at Trump Doral.
For Justin Rose, the outcome stung. The 45-year-old, trying to become the second-oldest Masters champion behind Jack Nicklaus (46 in 1986), briefly led after a stunning up-and-down to a foot at the seventh and rattled off three straight birdies to close the front nine. Bogeys and a three-putt around Amen Corner erased that advantage and left Rose wondering what might have been.
Cameron Young’s early push lost steam after a long three-putt on the par-3 sixth and a bogey the following hole when a fairway wedge found a bunker. He settled in to close with nine straight pars and said he had little to regret despite missed opportunities.
Scottie Scheffler, the world No. 1, mounted a remarkable weekend charge — starting the weekend 12 shots back and posting a bogey-free 65-68 to climb into contention — but his run of 11 straight pars early in the final round wasn’t enough to catch McIlroy. Scheffler finished as runner-up, his third second-place in a major alongside four major wins, and his bogey-free weekend was the first at Augusta since 1942.
McIlroy credited a memory from his first Masters practice round in 2009, when Tom Watson advised waiting for the right wind at the tricky 12th. His three-quarter 9-iron there drifted right but landed perfectly — closer than any other shot all day. “That was a really good golf shot at the right time,” he said.
Once haunted by the pursuit of the green jacket, McIlroy has now won it in consecutive years. A year ago he asked, “What are we going to talk about next year?” Now the lingering question is whether anyone will ever win three straight at Augusta — a feat no one has managed.