Rory McIlroy Wins the Masters Again, a Rare Back‑to‑Back Victory

McIlroy’s second Masters win came just a year after his first, turning him into the first player since Tiger Woods to claim consecutive titles. The Northern Irishman had to wait over ten years for the first green jacket, but he kept his momentum going into this tournament. During Saturday’s third round, he squandered a record six‑stroke advantage, only to claw back the lead on Sunday. A rough start on the 18th forced him into a bogey, yet he still finished one stroke ahead of world No. 1 Scottie Scheffler. His 71 on Sunday, with a final‑hole bogey, matched the score of his first Masters victory. McIlroy reflected that he felt similar to last year, noting a double bogey early on the first hole in 2019 and another at four this year, but then played flawlessly. He made four birdies without any bogeys after that point, keeping a two‑stroke cushion. McIlroy is only the fourth golfer in four decades to lead after every round of the Masters, according to ESPN Research. With six major titles, he joins England’s Nick Faldo for the second‑most majors among European players.The drama of the 18th hole was palpable. With a two‑stroke lead, he sliced his drive into the trees on the right and nearly missed the fairway. A high hook with an 8‑iron landed in a left bunker; he chipped to 12 feet and two‑putted for the bogey that sealed his win. Scheffler finished at 11 under, closing with a 68 and becoming the first golfer since WWII to avoid bogeys in the final two rounds. Other notable performances included LIV Golf’s Tyrrell Hatton, Russell Henley, Justin Rose and Cameron Young tying for third at 10 under. Henley admitted he had many good shots but failed to capitalize on them, while Rose, a three‑time runner‑up who lost in last year’s playoff to McIlroy, started strong with three straight birdies but faltered at Amen Corner and later on the 15th, leaving him two strokes behind. Scheffler’s weekend saw a strong Saturday with seven under par, but he managed only straight pars on Sunday except for two birdies at 15 and 16. He acknowledged the disappointment but noted he had recovered from a significant deficit over the course of the tournament.