Rory McIlroy delivered a thrilling defense of his Masters title on April 12, 2026, capturing his second consecutive green jacket and sixth major championship overall. The Northern Irish star overcame a shaky final round start, early bogeys, and late pressure from world No. 1 Scottie Scheffler to win by just one stroke at 12-under par. His final-round 71 proved enough to join an elite group—Jack Nicklaus, Nick Faldo, and Tiger Woods—as only the fourth player to go back-to-back at Augusta National.
I think he knew that it wasn’t going to be easy. But, you know, yesterday, nobody just seemed to make a real charge on him. You know, made the birdie at 12, which was everything, but nobody really put any pressure on him until Scottie at the end, and it was too late.
– Mark Schlabaugh
Rory McIlroy, of Northern Ireland, gives a thumbs up after winning the Masters golf tournament at the Augusta National Golf Club, Sunday, April 12, 2026, in Augusta, Ga. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)
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