Masters 2026: Rory McIlroy rebounds to collect second consecutive green jacket

Rory McIlroy was never really going to blow a six-shot lead at the Masters was he? Ultimately, no, but it did appear that way for a large portion of the weekend at Augusta National.

The defending Masters champion built a whopping, record six-shot lead at the midway point Friday, only to cough it all up via a Saturday 73. On Sunday, playing in the final pairing with Players champion Cameron Young, McIlroy found himself three off the lead early after a three-putt double bogey from nine feet on the fourth hole.

Then, one-by-one, others faltered—Young, Justin Rose, Russell Henley—just as McIlroy rediscovered the form that won him a green jacket a year ago, the same form that created the huge lead two days prior. After birdies at 7, 8, 12 and 13, suddenly McIlroy had amassed a three-shot lead again and was on his way to defending his title by shooting a final-round 71 for a 12-under 276 total.

But first, there was one last bit of drama when McIlroy blew his tee shot on the home hole way right, just to the right of the 10th fairway. He found the front, left bunker with his second shot, blasted out and two-putted for bogey and a one-shot victory over World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler.

McIlroy, 36, joins Jack Nicklaus (1965, ’66), Nick Faldo (1989, ’90) and Tiger Woods (2001, ’02) as the only players to win back-to-back green jackets. It was his sixth major title, joining Faldo as Europeans with the most.

This was just another classic Sunday on these hallowed Georgia grounds, a place that rarely disappoints.

At one point three different men held at least a two-shot lead. Rose, leading on the back nine, looked like he was going to capture his first Masters title after three runner-up finishes but bogeyed the 11th and 12th holes and three-putted the par-5 13th for par. Henley opened with 73, then went scorched earth the next three days and got into the mix. Young was under par after five holes, looking to join Scheffler and McIlroy as winners of both the Players and Masters the last two years. But he bogeyed three of the next four holes and never again found his rhythm. Tyrrell Hatton, playing well ahead of the leaders, birdied 13 through 16 to get to double digits under par. And World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler, 12 behind McIlroy after Round 2 charged with two late birdies and had the patrons worked into a lather. Rounds of 65-68 over the weekend earned him solo second place.

Those were just the crib notes.

In the end, the week was all about the 36-year-old from Northern Ireland, just as this week was last year. He arrived at Augusta National having not played competitively in three weeks, but said his preparation was as good as it’s ever been, having felt like he played here enough to make him feel completely comfortable. He hosted the Champions Dinner on Tuesday, saying “it’s been an amazing 12 months.” He shot 67-65 the first two days to build the record lead and many were wondering if the weekend would prove boring.

Not a chance.