Rory McIlroy holds nerve to secure back-to-back Masters titles and join golf’s elite

By SABC Sport
13th April 2026

Rory McIlroy reinforced his status among golf's all-time greats to become just the fourth player to successfully defend a Masters title.

A year ago, the 36-year-old Northern Irishman ended an 11-year drought at Augusta National, completing the career Grand Slam in the process.

At Augusta Nationan on Sunday, McIlroy carded a closing 71 to finish at 12 under par, edging world number one Scottie Scheffler by a single shot to claim back-to-back Green Jackets.

"I can't believe I waited 17 times to get one Green Jacket and now I get two in a row," said McIlroy, who clinched his sixth major to draw level with England's Sir Nick Faldo.

"All my perseverance at this golf course over the years has started to pay off.

"I did the bulk of my work on Thursday and Friday. But just so, so happy to hang in there and get the job done," McIlroy added.

McIlroy had surged into a record six-shot lead at the halfway stage of the tournament, but his lead was erased during Saturday's third round.

A chaotic start to his final round saw him fall two behind early on as playing partner Cameron Young and then Justin Rose — the man he edged in a play-off a year earlier — each took turns at the summit.

The defending champion hit back with consecutive birdies from the seventh and added another pair from the 12th, briefly stretching his advantage to three shots before Rose and Scottie Scheffler rallied to set up a tense finale.

Twelve months after letting a four-shot lead slip late on before still completing the career Grand Slam, McIlroy held his nerve this time. He carried a two-shot cushion to the 72nd hole and sealed victory with a composed two-putt bogey.

A closing 71 left the world No 2 on 12 under par, one clear of Scheffler, while Tyrrell Hatton’s superb final-round 66 secured a share of third alongside Rose, Young and Russell Henley.

The win places McIlroy alongside Jack Nicklaus, Sir Nick Faldo and Tiger Woods as multiple consecutive Masters champions, and also makes him just the 15th player in history to reach six or more major titles.