Rory McIlroy made more history by successfully defending his title at the Masters, but it took another rollercoaster Sunday to cap off his win at Augusta National.
McIlroy held a 36-hole lead, the largest in tournament history, but slipped to the point of splitting the lead heading into the final day, where he regained two spots and achieved another dramatic success.
World No. 2 McIlroy chased playing partners Cameron Young and Justin Rose (who he narrowly beat in the playoffs for a Grand Slam title last year) at various points in the final round, and McIlroy got back on track with back-to-back birdies starting at No. 7.
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Rory McIlroy receives his green jacket from Augusta National Golf Club Chairman Fred Ridley in Butler Cabin
McIlroy added another birdie near Amen Corner to take a three-length lead with five holes to go and cruised to an impressive victory despite a bogey on the 72nd hole for the second year in a row.
With this victory, McIlroy equaled Sir Nick Faldo’s six major titles and became the fourth player to win consecutive Masters titles, joining Jack Nicklaus, Faldo and Tiger Woods.
“I waited 17 years to get one green jacket and to get two in a row is unbelievable,” McIlroy said. “I think all the perseverance I’ve put in over the years in this golf tournament is starting to pay off. It was a tough weekend. I did most of my work on Thursday and Friday, but I’m just glad I was able to hang in there and get the job done.”
McIlroy’s final-round 71 had five birdies, one bogey and one double bogey, and was among many players in contention on a special major Sunday. Here’s a hole-by-hole look at how McIlroy found another big success…
hall 1
Young found a fairway bunker off the tee and started with a two-putt par. McIlroy hit two good shots onto the green, but missed a 10-foot birdie chance and posted a better par-two than the par-two he started in last year’s final round.
Burns, who was playing in the previous group, made a birdie on the first hole to take the lead in a three-way tie.
Score: -11 Young, McIlroy, Barnes (1)
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Justin Rose starts the final round at the Masters with a great chip in birdie on No. 1
2nd hole
McIlroy had to lay up from a fairway bunker, but hit a wedge within 10 feet on his third shot. Young’s pitch over a bunker fell to 11 feet for birdie, and when McIlroy couldn’t make a shot, Young took the sole lead.
Burns saw a tree on his tee shot and made a double-bogey 7, ruining his good start.
Scores: -12 Young, -11 McIlroy, -9 Barnes (2)
3rd hole
Young took advantage of an incredible break off the tee, hitting a tree and returning to the fairway for a two-putt par. McIlroy jumped 8 feet from the sand for his first birdie of the round.
Score: -12 Young, -12 McIlroy
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Cameron Young looks back at the number of times he rubbed the greens at this year’s Masters.
4th hole
McIlroy drove his tee shot to the left of the green and hit a good chip over the bunker to 9 feet, but a three-putt double bogey dropped him to 10 under. Young made two putts from the front of the green and cleared two.
Score: -12 Young, -10 McIlroy
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Rory McIlroy drops two strokes on the par-3 fourth after hitting an ugly double-bogey five from inside 10 feet.
5th hole
Although Young did not reach the green, he holed a two-putt par, and McIlroy also made a par to maintain a two-point lead.
Further down the course, Henry made back-to-back birdies starting at No. 7, and Rose made an incredible approach through the trees for a kick-in birdie, moving him into a tie for second with McIlroy.
Scores: -12 Young, -10 McIlroy, -10 Henry (8), -10 Rose (7)
6th hole
Young had a three-putt bogey from 70 feet and his first putt fell short of 6 feet, dropping him to 11 under, one spot behind Henry and Rose. McIlroy went long and made the putt from outside the green, but missed 12 feet to save par.
Scores: -11 Young, -10 Henry (9), -10 Rose (7), -9 McIlroy
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Rory McIlroy fought back from three drop shots in the final round of the Masters to stay level for the first nine and stay in contention for the green jacket for the second time.
7th hole
Young finished in a bunker short of the center of the fairway, but then failed to get up and down and missed from 10 feet, making his second consecutive bogey and losing his spot in the lead.
McIlroy closed the gap on his partner with a solid iron shot for an 8-foot birdie, while Rose, who was two groups ahead, took full advantage with a birdie on the par-5 eighth.
Scores: -11 Rose (8), -10 McIlroy, -10 Young
8th hole
After hitting the par-5 green in two, McIlroy walked after the ball and made a two-putt birdie from 25 feet to improve his total to 11 under par. Young also made a shot and lined up with McIlroy, and Rose made a 15-foot birdie on the ninth to take the turn at 32 and hold the lead by one.
Scores: -12 Rose (9), -11 Young, -11 McIlroy
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Justin Rose made five birdies in the first nine holes in the fourth round of the Masters
9th hole
Young had to pitch out through the pines after a wayward drive and saw the ball roll into a divot, but the American ultimately had to make a smart two-putt to limit the damage to bogey.
McIlroy was unable to capitalize on his excellent approach and missed a 6-foot chance for a third consecutive birdie, dropping him to a tie for third with Hatton, who had climbed to the leaderboard with four consecutive birdies starting at No. 13.
Scores: -12 Rose (10), -11 McIlroy, 10 Young, -10 Hatton (17)
10th hole
Rose finished short of the par-4 11th green and missed the up-and-down, but McIlroy’s regulation two-putt par starting on the second and ninth was enough to regain a share of the lead. Henry also marked par and remained in the group one spot behind.
Scores: -11 Rose (11), -11 McIlroy, -10 Young, -10 Henry (13), -10 Hatton (F)
11th hole
Rose misjudged his pitch from the back of the 12th green and ultimately had to go in two to recover from bogey, but McIlroy holed in from 8 feet on the par 11th to regain the sole lead. Young also made par with two putts and remained at 10 under.
Scores: -11 McIlroy, -10 Young, -10 Henry (14), -10 Hatton (F)
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Justin Rose made two bogeys on the 11th and 12th and made par on the 13th, putting him out of contention for the championship.
12th hole
McIlroy hit a great tee shot to within 8 feet on the iconic par 3 and held the putt for birdie. Young doubled the lead when he couldn’t answer an effort from a few feet away.
Scores: -12 McIlroy, -10 Young, -10 Rose (13), -10 Henry (15), -10 Hatton (F)
Rory McIlroy and Cameron Young played together in the final group on Sunday
13th hole
McIlroy made a great downhill two-putt from outside the green and extended his advantage with two consecutive birdies. He converted from 10 feet for 13 under, three spots clear of Young, who had a birdie chance from the same distance.
Scores: -13 McIlroy, -10 Young, -10 Rose (14), -10 Henry (16), -10 Hatton (F)
14th hole
McIlroy comfortably made par, and Young maintained the same score, but Scheffler’s birdie on the par-3 15th and Rose’s lead on the par-5 15th narrowed the lead.
Scoring: -13 McIlroy, -11 Scheffler (16), -11 Rose (15), -10 Young
15th hole
McIlroy was forced to lay up after being blocked by a tree, his wedge shot barely clearing the water, and he two-putted for par. Young was unable to get up or down from the back of the green and fell three spots behind.
Scoring: -13 McIlroy, -11 Scheffler (17), -11 Rose (16), -10 Young
16th hole
McIlroy had a long tee shot that made it difficult to get up and down from the back of the green, and he judged the break perfectly to leave a close par. Young got his tee shot within 15 feet, but his birdie putt went out in the horseshoe.
In the front group, Rose knew his slim hopes were dashed when he missed a close putt to save par.
Scores: -13 McIlroy, -11 Scheffler (F), -10 Rose (17), 10 Young
17th hole
McIlroy’s approach from the center of the 17th fairway bounced off the green, but he safely sank two putts from outside the green and maintained a two-stroke buffer until the 72nd hole.
Score: -13 McIlroy, -11 Scheffler (F) 10 Young
18th hole
There was potential for drama on the final hole when McIlroy found a tree on the tee and had to move Patron to hit his approach short of the green.
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Rory McIlroy defends his Masters title with a bogey on the 72nd hole
The ball settled in a greenside bunker, a smart chip soared 15 feet, and McIlroy fell behind to within three inches and tapped in for the win.
Final score: -12 McIlroy, -11 Scheffler, -10 Young, Henry, Rose, Hatton.
What did McIlroy say?
As for how his win compared to last year, McIlroy said, “The feel was pretty similar. Last year I hit a double early on the first hole, this year I hit a double in four. I played perfect golf after that.”
Rory McIlroy awarded green jacket by Augusta National chairman Fred Ridley
“I headed to the final tee knowing I was two strokes behind with four birdies and no bogeys. It’s great to have a two-stroke cushion instead of a one-stroke cushion like last year.”
“I looked at the board after the bogey on No. 6 and I think I was back to 9 under at that point. I thought, ‘Okay, if I can get to 14 under, I think I have a pretty good chance of winning this tournament.’ I didn’t quite get there, but by the time I stood on the 18th tee, 13 under was good enough.”
What’s next?
The next men’s major will be the PGA Championship at Aronimink Golf Club in Pennsylvania from May 14th to 17th, which will also be broadcast live on Sky Sports. Get and stream Sky Sports without a contract.
