Rory McIlroy won the 2026 Masters, taking home a $4.5 million prize and reclaiming the green jacket. Despite hitting only 55% of fairways, his strong performance around the greens secured his victory.
How Rory McIlroy graded his 2026 Masters performance to keep green jacket
Why did he win? Because, he was very good on and around the greens at Augusta National.
McIlroy bombed his driver throughout the week, but he hit the fairway off the tee just 55% of the time. To wit, he missed the fairway to the right on his final hole. As he did throughout most of the week, McIlroy avoided disaster. He needed a bogey on No. 18 to win at 12-under, and so bogey was what he carded.
Why does he still rule the Masters? It's obvious. His putting was dialed in, particularly during his sizzling Round 2, when he needed just 24 putts. He had only two three-putts throughout the 72 holes.
That included a three-putt on No. 4 of his final round for his lone Sunday double-bogey.
McIlroy got his round back on track with a 7-footer for birdie on No. 7, then made another 7-footer for more red ink on the par-3 No. 12, kicking off back-to-back birdies in a tour through Amen Corner that won the Masters for McIlroy.
2025: Rory McIlroy
2024: Scottie Scheffler (second win).
2023: Jon Rahm
2022: Scottie Scheffler
2021: Hideki Matsuyama.
2020: Dustin Johnson
2019: Tiger Woods (fifth win).
2018: Patrick Reed.
2017: Sergio Garcia.
2016: Danny Willett.
Jordan Spieth dons the green jacket after winning the 2015 Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club.
2014: Bubba Watson (second win).
2005: Tiger Woods (fourth win).
2004: Phil Mickelson.
2002: Tiger woods (third win).
2001: Tiger woods (second win).
1 / 16
Masters champions: Every winner at Augusta since 2000
2025: Rory McIlroy
1 / 16
Masters champions: Every winner at Augusta since 2000
2025: Rory McIlroy
2 / 16
Masters champions: Every winner at Augusta since 2000
2024: Scottie Scheffler (second win).
3 / 16
Masters champions: Every winner at Augusta since 2000
2023: Jon Rahm
4 / 16
Masters champions: Every winner at Augusta since 2000
2022: Scottie Scheffler
5 / 16
Masters champions: Every winner at Augusta since 2000
2021: Hideki Matsuyama.
6 / 16
Masters champions: Every winner at Augusta since 2000
2020: Dustin Johnson
7 / 16
Masters champions: Every winner at Augusta since 2000
2019: Tiger Woods (fifth win).
8 / 16
Masters champions: Every winner at Augusta since 2000
2018: Patrick Reed.
9 / 16
Masters champions: Every winner at Augusta since 2000
2017: Sergio Garcia.
10 / 16
Masters champions: Every winner at Augusta since 2000
2016: Danny Willett.
11 / 16
Masters champions: Every winner at Augusta since 2000
Jordan Spieth dons the green jacket after winning the 2015 Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club.
12 / 16
Masters champions: Every winner at Augusta since 2000
2014: Bubba Watson (second win).
13 / 16
Masters champions: Every winner at Augusta since 2000
2005: Tiger Woods (fourth win).
14 / 16
Masters champions: Every winner at Augusta since 2000
2004: Phil Mickelson.
15 / 16
Masters champions: Every winner at Augusta since 2000
2002: Tiger woods (third win).
16 / 16
Masters champions: Every winner at Augusta since 2000
2001: Tiger woods (second win).
Asked to grade his tournament in the various facets of his game, here's how McIlroy saw it:
Rory McIlroy's driving at Masters
McIlroy's grade: B-
**What he said: "**I didn't drive the ball great. I drove it better (in the final round)."
McIlroy's irons at Masters
McIlroy's grade: B
What he said: "My irons were really good, Thursday, Friday, and (Sunday) I felt like I hit some better iron shots. (Saturday) was really poor."
McIlroy's short game and putting at Masters
McIlroy's grade: A+
What he said: "My scrambling and my short game and my putting, that's what won me the tournament this week."
What was Rory McIlroy's winning score at the 2026 Masters?
Rory McIlroy won the 2026 Masters with a score of 12-under par.
How much prize money did Rory McIlroy earn for winning the 2026 Masters?
Rory McIlroy earned $4.5 million for winning the 2026 Masters.
What percentage of fairways did Rory McIlroy hit during the 2026 Masters?
Rory McIlroy hit only 55% of the fairways during the 2026 Masters.
What key skill helped Rory McIlroy win the 2026 Masters?
Rory McIlroy's strong performance on and around the greens was crucial to his victory at the 2026 Masters.
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