Masters 2026: Rory McIlroy drew on a conversation from nearly two decades ago before hitting the gutsiest shot of the tournament

AUGUSTA, Ga. — As Rory McIlroy stood on the 12th tee Sunday, where green jackets have been lost in epic fashion, he thought all the way back to a 2009 practice round from his very first Masters. It was then when two-time winner Tom Watson gave him a bit of advice on how to handle the famed "Golden Bell" that may have decided the 2026 edition of the tournament.

That's what makes this week unlike any other. In the biggest moment of Sunday's final round, when McIlroy simply had to have it, he though of Watson, who conquered Augusta National in 1977 and 1981, and of something said to him 17 years ago. McIlroy has been here every year since that moment. He finally conquered the place himself in 2025. But he dug into the memory well in the hopes of conquering it again a year later, and it worked.

Leading by one over Cameron Young and Justin Rose, who had just gone bogey-bogey at 11 and 12, McIlroy had a chance to impose his will. But No. 12 is not a hole you impose your will upon. It's a hole you play safe, and commands respect. McIlroy's drawing on Watson's words of wisdom was the ultimate sign of respect, though. As the wind swirled as it often does at Amen Corner, he remembered what Watson told him long before he had any of his now six majors and many of his gray hairs.

"It was in off the left. That was where the wind was," McIlroy said. "I waited—this is going back to one of my first-ever practice rounds here. I played a practice round with Tom Watson in 2009, and he said to me on the 12th tee he always waited until he felt where the wind should be and then just hit it. You know, just hit it as soon as you can."

McIlroy is a man who prefers to play fast, but the 12th requires patience. A good mix of both, as Watson told him, will serve you well. Wait for the wind you want, then strike.

That's just what McIlroy did, and the patrons on hand practically gasped in unison as the ball pushed toward the flag. You don't go at the 12th flag on Sunday. It never ends well.

It ended beautifully for McIlroy, whose three-quarter 9-iron pitched onto the front part of the green just right of the front bunker and spun toward the hole, leaving him with about 10 feet for birdie. Young matched him with a gutsy shot of his own, and got to putt first. He missed, McIlroy made, and everything changed.

"[The wind] was all over the place," he said. "When I stood up on the tee, it felt like it was off the right, and I looked at the 11th flag, it was blowing right to left. But I was patient, and I waited to feel where the wind should have been coming from, and I knew it was just a perfect 3/4 9-iron."

McIlroy admitted that he didn't plan on it drifting as far right as it did. But he's not complaining now.

"I aimed it at the middle of the bunker," he added. "Probably didn't anticipate it to drift as far right as it did. That's why you give yourself a little bit of margin for error. That was a really good golf shot at the right time and probably a golf shot I wouldn't have been able to hit yesterday if I didn't go to the range and try to figure a few things out and try to neutralize the ball flight a little bit.

"Yeah, absolutely huge, huge shot in the tournament."

We'd argue it was the biggest.

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