Rory McIlroy overcame a roller coaster on Sunday with a one-shot win at Augusta National to become the first player since Tiger Woods to win back-to-back Masters titles.
McIlroy built a historic six-shot lead at half-time, but was trailed by two early in a dramatic final round, with partner Cameron Young and Justin Rose, the man McIlroy beat in a play-off 12 months ago, both enjoying top spot.
The defending champion fought back with back-to-back birdies from No. 7 and then added back-to-back birdies from No. 12 to take a three-point lead at one point, but Rose and Scottie Scheffler closed it out for a thrilling finish.
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Rory McIlroy played the Amen Corner at 2 under and fought off the pack to take firm control of the Masters in Sunday’s final round.
McIlroy avoided a repeat of last year’s late stumble (wasting a four-stroke lead before completing a career grand slam) in 12 months, holding a two-stroke lead through 72 holes before a two-putt bogey for a narrow victory.
The world No. 2 player shot a 1-under 71 to finish at 12 under, one place ahead of Scheffler, and Tyrrell Hutton’s impressive final-round 66 moved him into third place alongside Rose, Young and Russell Henry.
With his victory, McIlroy joins Jack Nicklaus, Sir Nick Faldo and Woods as players to win back-to-back Masters titles, and the 36-year-old becomes the 15th player in history to win six or more major titles.
How McIlroy made more Masters history
McIlroy joins a small group of back-to-back Masters champions
McIlroy avoided a repeat of last year’s double-bogey on the opening hole, but was set back by Young’s birdie on the par-5 second hole, and responded with an exquisite up-and-down from the greenside bunker to take advantage of the easy-to-drive third.
When McIlroy hit his tee shot on the par-3 fourth and three-putted from within 10 feet for double bogey, Young suddenly moved two spots ahead, while both players made bogeys on the par-3 sixth, condensing an already solidified leaderboard.
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McIlroy dropped two strokes on the par-3 fourth at Augusta National in the final round of the Masters, falling to two strokes behind.
Rose, who plays two groups in front, started with a back three, but after making bogey on the third hole, he fell further behind, but made three consecutive birdies from the sixth hole to take the sole lead.
Young failed to get up from the sand on No. 7, and Rose doubled his lead with a 15-foot birdie on No. 9. But McIlroy and Young were both able to fight back on the par-5 eighth.
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Rose made five birdies in his first nine holes, boosting his hopes for an elusive victory at the Masters.
McIlroy had a 6-foot birdie chance on the 9th, but after Rose bogeyed the 11th to tie for the lead, an impressive stretch around Amen Corner put him firmly in control of the tournament.
Rose, ranked No. 2 in the world, holed an 8-foot birdie on the par-3 12th hole, but Rose misjudged the chip and made bogey, but a well-placed two-putt from the back of the 13th green moved him three places with five holes remaining.
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Justin Rose made two bogeys on the 11th and 12th holes and made par on the 13th hole to take over the lead.
McIlroy had to lay up through the trees on his way to par on the 15th, and fought for par on the next two holes, but overcame a late scare when his drive on the final hole went into the trees.
He hit his second shot into a greenside bunker, pulled it to 15 feet and two-putted for the win. A bogey on the final hole for the second year in a row wasn’t enough to prevent McIlroy from winning another major title.
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Highlights from the final round of the Masters, where Rory McIlroy won his sixth major title with a 1-under 71
“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.”
Scheffler entered the weekend 12 strokes behind McIlroy and shot a bogey-free 68 for second place, while Rose, a three-time Masters runner-up, narrowly missed out on the 15th hole with a bogey on the second-to-last hole that canceled out his birdie.
Young shot a 73 in the final round, falling short of winning the Players and Masters for the third year in a row. Shane Lowry stumbled with a final round 80, dropping him to a tie for 30th place, two strokes back.
What’s next?
The PGA Tour heads to South Carolina for its newest signature event, the RBC Heritage at Hilton Head Island, with Justin Thomas returning as defending champion. Sky Sports Golf will have early coverage starting at 12.30pm on Thursday, ahead of full coverage from 7pm.
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.
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