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
AUGUSTA, Ga. – Driver for show, and putter for $4.5 million of dough. That was the winner's purse at the Masters, and Rory McIlroy is taking home the top prize, with the green jacket back on his shoulders.
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.
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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
2025: Rory McIlroy
1 / 16
2025: Rory McIlroy
2 / 16
2024: Scottie Scheffler (second win).
3 / 16
2023: Jon Rahm
4 / 16
2022: Scottie Scheffler
5 / 16
2021: Hideki Matsuyama.
6 / 16
2020: Dustin Johnson
7 / 16
2019: Tiger Woods (fifth win).
8 / 16
2018: Patrick Reed.
9 / 16
2017: Sergio Garcia.
10 / 16
2016: Danny Willett.
11 / 16
Jordan Spieth dons the green jacket after winning the 2015 Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club.
12 / 16
2014: Bubba Watson (second win).
13 / 16
2005: Tiger Woods (fourth win).
14 / 16
2004: Phil Mickelson.
15 / 16
2002: Tiger woods (third win).
16 / 16
2001: Tiger woods (second win).
Asked to grade his tournament in the various facets of his game, here's how McIlroy saw it:
McIlroy's grade: B-
**What he said: "**I didn't drive the ball great. I drove it better (in the final round)."
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 grade: A+
What he said: "My scrambling and my short game and my putting, that's what won me the tournament this week."
Blake Toppmeyer is a columnist for the USA TODAY Network. Email him at BToppmeyer@gannett.com and follow him on X @btoppmeyer.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Rory McIlroy grades 2026 Masters performance: See what got an A+
Rory McIlroy won the 2026 Masters with a score of 12-under par.
Rory McIlroy earned $4.5 million for winning the 2026 Masters.
Rory McIlroy hit only 55% of the fairways during 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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