Rory McIlroy becomes a golfing great with back-to-back Masters titles

McIlroy gave his supporters a huge scare with a poor drive at the 18th but bogey was good enough for the title - Hector Vivas/Getty Images

Rory McIlroy is the Masters history man. In dramatic scenes on Sunday, the Northern Irishman showed immense nous and nerve to become the first player since 2002 to defend the Augusta title successfully and just the fourth ever in the 90 years of this major.

And the fact that he has joined Jack Nicklaus, Sir Nick Faldo and Tiger Woods in this exclusive club highlights the scale of the achievement. McIlroy has also joined Faldo in the all-time major list on six; the most by any European in modern times.

By any and every measure the 36-year-old must now be considered one of the greatest of all time and, after he fended off the fast-finishing Scottie Scheffler, the countdown has already started to see if he can go where no other Masters champion has before: win three in a row.

There can be no doubt that this is his manor after a display of clinical fortitude. He lost a six-shot advantage on Saturday and after a double-bogey on the fourth – courtesy of a three-putt from nine feet – and a bogey on the par-three sixth, he was two off the pace. And with Justin Rose pulling a few clear at the turn and world No 1 Scheffler poised to make his run, it looked bleak for McIlroy.

But he did not panic and having largely fixed his left miss in Saturday night’s late, emergency practice session in the floodlights, he stuck by his gameplan. McIlroy outblasted and ultimately outlasted his rivals, including the world No 3 Cameron Young – and prevailed over Scheffler (68) by a shot on 12-under following a 72. It sounds like a whisker, but, in truth, it was a long whisker.

“I just can’t believe I waited 17 years to get one green jacket and now I get two in a row,” he said. “I did the bulk of my work on Thursday and Friday, but I’m just so happy to hang in there and get the job done.”

In terms of being a roller-coaster, it did not begin to rival the unbelievable, gut-wobbling scenes of 12 months before. But then, how could it? In 2025, it had been 11 years since McIlroy had won his fourth major and every year after that he had visited the major that seemingly suited his game most and the pressure had built as he tried to emulate Ben Hogan, Gene Sarazen, Gary Player, Nicklaus and Woods in completing the career grand slam.

At least four times in that crazy scenario, he had one arm in that Green Jacket until he finally saw off Rose in a play-off. This time around it was tense, but it was not on the same level. McIlroy knew it would not be as he explained on Saturday night.

“I’d like to think that I’ll play a little bit freer and I’ll play, you know, like I’ve already got a Green Jacket, which I do,” he said. “Sometimes I maybe just have to remind myself of that, but I think as well that the stakes in terms of, like, the pairing will be just a little bit easier. You know, the atmosphere out there will be a little bit easier. Yeah, I’m not worried about that at all.”

Some took that to mean he was not as motivated, but if that is the case they do not know McIlroy and they do not remember 2014. That was his most spectacular year to date when, as a player in his mid 20s, he won back to back majors. This now has the feel of those days and it will be intriguing to see where he takes this next. He is playing freely and is highly dangerous.

McIlroy was watched on Sunday by his mum, dad, wife and daughter - Mike Segar/Reuters

McIlroy did not enjoy anything like the perfect preparation and that should give him such hope. He mistakenly changed irons at the start of the year – from blades to cavities – and that cost him time as he was forced to switch back. Then came the back injury that meant he withdrew on the Saturday morning of the Arnold Palmer Invitational. He was tentative at the next week’s Players Championship and then that was it. Three weeks off before Augusta.

He used the time well, flying up to Augusta from his Florida home on his private jet. He worked so hard on short game and this was the area that made the difference as his usually impeccable driving went alarmingly awry.

But he recovered it just in time and with birdies at the seventh and eighth he pulled level with Rose, when the veteran bogeyed the 11th. McIlroy regained the advantage with a sumptuous wedge to eight feet on the 12th – the par three that has cost so many golfers the Green Jacket – and then holed from six feet on the 13th.

He was two ahead, but with Scheffler birdieing the 16th and 17th, there was still anxiety to settle. For McIlroy at Augusta there always will be. He flew the green on the 16th and was faced with a hellish chip. He delivered, conjuring it to a few feet. McIlroy parred the 17th and had a two-shot advantage up the 18th, where he could afford to take a bogey. Any residual Augusta demons had been well and truly crushed.

Feel for Rose, however. Three times an Augusta runner-up, the 45-year-old was two ahead when he stood on the 10th tee and, three under for the day, was clearly playing the best golf. The Green Jacket he has sought for so long was finally beckoning. The patrons were gearing up for one of this tournament’s most popular successes. But he pushed his approach on the 11th and then pulled his tee-shot on the 12th and the back-to-back bogeys essentially cost him.

To be honest, the scoring was not astounding and this reduced the cheers. At the back of the field, Jon Rahm explained why. “I don’t think we’ve ever seen a Masters this firm and I don’t know how long it is going to be until we do again,” he said, after a 68 took him to one-under. “Both off the tee and on the greens. Have you seen how yellow the patron areas and how brown and purple parts of the greens and fairways are?”

The Spaniard was correct and that made Tyrrell Hatton’s 66 all the more remarkable. The Englishman reeled off six birdies and an eagle to leap from 15th into a tie for third with Rose, Young and Russell Henley – and to his best ever finish in a major. It was a fine performance from the Buckinghamshire golfer who should win a major soon. However, this was McIlroy’s Masters Sunday. Again.

Where McIlroy won it

3rd – Birdie
After a nervy start to his round, McIlroy got things going at the 350-yard driveable par-four. The Northern Irishman found the greenside bunker with his tee shot, splashed out to nine feet, and then sunk the putt.

7th – Birdie
After a double bogey at the par-three fourth, where he three-putted from just nine feet, and then another dropped shot at the par-three sixth, the wheels were in serious danger of falling off McIlroy’s round. He stabilised things with this birdie at the seventh: a beautiful drive, a pitch to seven feet and a solid putt.

8th – Birdie
McIlroy made it back to back birdies at the eighth, for once finding a fairway at a par-five this week with a meaty 349-yard drive. He then hit a soaring 225-yard approach with just the right amount of draw to send it rolling up the long green – walking after his shot in characteristic fashion. Although he missed the eagle putt, he left himself a tap-in birdie.

11th – Par
After a double bogey on Saturday, McIlroy bailed out right with his approach but then left himself with a very difficult 13ft putt for par after a poor first putt. Luckily, it dropped. At the time, it felt every bit as important as the birdies earlier in his round.

12th – Birdie 
McIlroy’s tee shot at Augusta’s iconic par-three 12th was arguably the shot of his round. Eschewing the safe option, he went right for the flag and landed it seven feet from the pin, holing out to move two shots clear.

13th – Birdie
A brilliant putt from the hollow next to the 13th green set up this birdie, which established an ultimately decisive three-shot lead. McIlroy had to aim sideways, way above the hole, and watch as his putt rolled down towards Rae’s Creek, ultimately stopping about 11ft from the pin. The fact he sunk the putt was particularly important as Scheffler had just birdied 15, producing a guttural roar across Augusta. Great response.

16th – Par
McIlroy repeated the trick at the par-three 16th, albeit this time for par. Having missed the green long off the tee, McIlroy once again had to aim miles above the hole and let his putt catch the downslope. It eventually stopped 1ft from the flag. Brilliant shot.

17th – Par
Crucial chip up the hill after missing the green right, leaving himself a regulation par putt.

18th – Bogey
McIlroy knew that a bogey would be enough to claim his second Masters title, but a wild drive right into the trees left his fans with a horrible sense of deja vu. He couldn’t, could he? Bryson DeChambeau only needed a bogey on 18 to make the cut on Friday and ended up with a quadruple. McIlroy was actually so far right off the tee he had a line around the right side of the trees and was able to draw his 162yd approach into the front left greenside bunker. From there the Northern Irishman splashed out to 12ft. He missed his par putt by a matter of inches but it hardly mattered. McIlroy marked his ball to allow Cameron Young to finish up and was tearing up even before he rolled in the winning putt.

12:29am

Celebrations that will surely go long into the night

12:27am

Pulling on the Green Jacket in the setting Georgia sun

Going back-to-back - Brian Snyder/Reuters

Feels like last year! - Hector Vivas/Getty Images

12:23am

An image of pure joy!

12:20am

Rory’s final scorecard

A one-under round of 71 for McIlroy today. He admitted in the Butler Cabin that he did most of his work on Thursday and Friday. 12 under was enough to get the job done, one shot ahead of his now fellow two-time Masters winner Scottie Scheffler.

12:18am

One former Masters champion pays tribute to the now back-to-back Masters winner

12:15am

Sir Nick Faldo on Sky Sports

“All credit to him. Incredible. He has got another major to his name. All he needs now is to win another US Open and another Open Championship and then he will be a two-time Grand Slam champion.

“That is his goal. To get there along with the likes of Jack [Nicklaus] and Tiger [Woods]. He is unique. Rory is the only one out of those guys to go 11 years between wins, and then he has added another one.”

Enjoying victory with his parents - Mike Segar/Reuters

12:13am

Into the Butler Cabin we go

With Rory McIlroy going back-to-back, it is just him, CBS’ Jim Nantz and Augusta National Chairperson Fred Ridley, who will be the man to hand over the Green Jacket to Rory, inside Butler Cabin. This is what McIlroy has had to say:

“I cannot believe I waited 17 years to get one Green Jacket and now I get two in a row. It was a tough weekend, I did the majority of the work on Thursday and Friday. It felt pretty similar to last year. I made a double early on the first hole last year and I made a double on four this year and then I played flawless golf after that, I made four birdies and no bogeys going to the last tee knowing that I had a two-shot lead and it was nice to have that two-shot cushion instead of the one like I had last year.

“I looked at the board after I made the bogey on six and I think I went back to nine under at that point and I said, ‘if I can get to 14 under I think I have got a really good chance of winning this tournament.’ I did not quite get there. I got to 13 but that was good enough standing on the 18th tee.

“It was incredible [to have his parents there]. It is the second major win my mum has been at. I am so glad they got to experience this today and we are going to enjoy tonight.”

12:08am

Joining another exclusive club

Rory McIlroy became just the sixth man to complete the career Grand Slam last year when winning his first Green Jacket and now joins another pretty special club with his second, becoming just the fourth man to go back-to-back at Augusta National:

Jack Nicklaus- 1965/66
Sir Nick Faldo- 1989/90
Tiger Woods- 2001/02
Rory McIlroy- 2025/26

Another special achievement in the career of Rory McIlroy - Andrew Redington/Getty Images

12:06am

Going back-to-back

12:05am

The winning moment

11:54pm Key moments

Rory McIlroy wins back-to-back Masters

The Northern Irishman taps in and becomes just the fourth man in history to claim back-to-back Masters after Jack Nicklaus, Sir Nick Faldo and Tiger Woods. A year ago, he completed the career Grand Slam. Now he wins his second straight Green Jacket and claims his sixth major title.

He finishes with a round of 71 and completes the tournament on 12 under, one shot clear of Scottie Scheffler. It might be quite difficult to put the Green Jacket on yourself Rory!

His wife, daughter Poppy and parents are there to greet him as he walks off the 18th green. Shane Lowry and Tommy Fleetwood also on hand to congratulate McIlroy.

Rory McIlroy joins another very exclusive club - Mike Segar/Reuters

11:53pm

Nearly complete

McIlroy is standing over his putt, knowing he has two putts to claim victory. 15ft for the par. It nearly drops but slides just by the right edge. He will let Young finish up before tapping in for back-to-back Masters.

Young sinks his par putt and finishes on 10 under.

Over to you Rory...

11:50pm

Nearly there...

This is not an easy shot for McIlroy. He steps into the bunker and plays a pretty good shot. He finds the green and has 10ft for par. Two putts to win.

11:48pm

Decent recovery

McIlroy is engaged in plenty of discussions with his caddie Harry Diamond. He has gone so far right that he could go over the tree to the right of the green, not a traditional line! He goes for a big hook and finds the bunker just in front of the green. That is a pretty decent recovery from where he was. The ball is sat down a touch so this will be tricky.

Rory did not make it easy for himself down the last - Gerald Herbert/AP

11:44pm

Tricky second shot incoming

A reminder that a bogey would still win it for McIlroy. A double though would take it to a play-off with Scheffler. There are plenty of trees in the way and McIlroy is not going to be able to go for the green? It is so far right that is it inconceivable that he could go up the 10th fairway?

11:41pm Analysis

Not over just yet?

Don’t speak too soon. Bryson only needed bogey to make the cut on Friday. He ended up with a quadruple bogey.

11:40pm

To the 18th tee

McIlroy, who last year took a one-shot advantage to the final hole, takes a two-shot lead to the last today. He is one good hole away from becoming just the fourth man to win back-to-back Masters after Jack Nicklaus, Sir Nick Faldo and Tiger Woods.

He steps up to hit his tee shot first. Oh my goodness! Shouts of “Fore Right!” come pretty quickly as it goes a long way right. McIlroy does not like to make it easy. This is going to be a very, very tough second shot. Perhaps Scheffler might not be giving up hope of a play-off.

11:37pm

Closing in

McIlroy nearly chips in but it just slides by the right edge of the hole. It is a simple tap-in for par and he knocks it in to stay at -13 as heads to the 18th tee.

Young cannot sink the birdie putt and remains at -10.

Up on the 18th green, Rose makes par to finish up on -10 after a round of 70 today, currently sitting in a tie for third. Once again so near yet so far at the Masters for the Englishman.

11:32pm

Still nervy moments ahead for McIlroy?

Both of the last pair have found the fairway down 17. Young will hit first and finds the centre of the green but still a lengthy birdie putt awaits.

A great shot here from McIlroy, like he did on this hole last year, would surely seal it. 151 yards in for the defending champion but it falls short of the green. It will be a slightly tricky up-and-down for par.

Meanwhile on 18, Rose’s second shot has come up short of the green, like Scheffler’s not long ago.

11:26pm

Low bullet

Exactly what McIlroy was after on the 17th tee as he drills it low and finds the fairway.

11:21pm Video

McIlroy remains two clear

McIlroy is facing a tricky two-putt here on 16 to save par. It is a pretty phenomenal effort with his first putt and he will be very relieved to be walking away with a par.

Young’s birdie putt looks destined for the hole but somehow goes around the hole and stays up. He remains at -10.

11:19pm

Staying at -11

Scheffler has to settle for a par at the last so now has the clubhouse lead at 11 under. Scheffler is the first man since 1942 to register bogey free rounds over the third and fourth rounds.

Scottie Scheffler into the clubhouse at -11 - Hector Vivas/Getty Images

Rose nearly chips in from off the green on 17 but it just evades the hole. He somehow though misses the par putt and drops to -10.

11:16pm

Nervy tee shot?

McIlroy is on the 16th and there is too much on the tee shot, going over the back of the green. How he would have liked to have found the centre of the green!

11:14pm

Stunning from Burns

What a putt that is from the American, whose lengthy putt swings a long way from right to left on the 16th green and drops in for birdie. Burns moves into a tie for fourth on -10.

11:12pm

Another hole closer

McIlroy’s approach into the 15th green only just makes it; that could so easily have rolled back into the water. It is a lengthy birdie putt for Rory but it does not drop. However, it is a simple tap-in for par and McIlroy stays at -13, two clear.

Young cannot make his birdie and stays at -10.

11:07pm

Being sensible

McIlroy’s drive ended up in the trees to the right of the fairway so he takes the pragmatic decision to lay up. No need to take a risk here being two shots ahead. The two men directly behind him are on 17 and 18 respectively.

Rose’s drive on 17 is very loose but he gets a huge slice of luck as it rebounds off a tree and ends up in the middle of the fairway.

11:05pm

So close!

Rose nearly rolls in a lengthy birdie putt on 16 but it does not drop. He remains at -11, as does Scheffler, whose birdie putt on 17 is so close to dropping but stays above ground. McIlroy’s two-shot lead remains.

11:04pm

Finishing with a par

Henley makes par at the last to go into the clubhouse at -10 alongside Hatton.

11:01pm

Going all the way

Scheffler is not going to make this easy for McIlroy as he finds the green in two on 17. Meanwhile McIlroy looks like he may have ended up in a similar position to where Scheffler was off the tee on 15.

10:55pm

Settling for par

McIlroy has a lengthy birdie putt on 14 that comes up just short. It was on the right line but just did not have quite enough pace on it.

Young had the line from McIlroy’s put but cannot take it. He just hit it too hard but does tidy up for par.

Up ahead on 15, Rose makes a simple birdie putt to join Scheffler on 11 under, two behind McIlroy.

10:52pm Video

Scheffler not out of this quite yet?

When his first two shots on 15 were not the best, the 2022 and 2024 Masters champion looked out of it in terms of the win. However, an unlikely birdie at 15 is followed up by a birdie on 16 to move to -11, two behind McIlroy.

10:45pm

Scheffler into tie for second

As McIlroy made birdie on 13, Scheffler made a very unlikely birdie on 15 to move to 10 under alongside Rose, Young, Hatton and Henley.

10:43pm Key moments • Video

McIlroy pushes lead out to three

Two incredibly difficult shots for McIlroy and Young off the green on 13. McIlroy goes for the putter, Young chips. Both are pretty decent efforts but it will be outside shots at birdies for both.

Young’s effort goes by the left side so can McIlroy get his? Like 12, you bet he can as it tucks inside and it drops in. McIlroy moves to 13 under.

10:37pm

Not his day?

Scheffler got off to a great start, making two early birdies to move to nine under, but he has stayed there ever since. His tee shot on 15 leaks to the right and then his attempted shot back into the fairway clips the branch of a tree. It seems very unlikely at this stage that Scheffler will be in contention for the win but you never know.

10:35pm

On the 13th

McIlroy has hit his drive on 13 350 yards! 183 yards remain and there will be no thought of laying up. Who can forget his huge mistake on this hole last year? He safely gets it over the creek but it goes just beyond the green, virtually in the same place as Young.

10:32pm

Struggles on 13

When Haotong Li began the 12th, he was seven under. When he left the 13th green, he was one over. That includes a ten on 13:

10:30pm

On his way to victory?

It is never that simple though with Rory, is it?

Rory McIlroy has a two-shot lead - Mike Blake/Reuters

10:25pm

Missed chance

Rose sets himself up for an opportunity at either eagle or at least birdie on the par-five 13th but he spurns both chances so has to settle for par and remains at -10, two off McIlroy. Having reached the green in two, Rose should not have walked away with a par.

10:21pm Key moments • Video

McIlroy extends lead

Young’s effort slides by and he has to settle for a par.

Can McIlroy take this birdie opportunity to extend his lead to two shots? You bet he can as he rolls it in to go to 12 under.

10:17pm

Over in County Down

Fancy Rory’s Green Jacket? - Liam McBurney/PA

10:16pm

Sensational

McIlroy and his caddie Harry Diamond take a long time to deliberate over the tee shot on the par-three 12th. That time they took was put to good use as McIlroy plays an incredible tee shot to leave him under 10ft for birdie.

Young then steps up and his is nearly as good. Two birdie chances.

10:12pm Video

Five straight birdies

Collin Morikawa does not look entirely comfortable with his back but he has hit five consecutive birdies between 12 and 16 to move to nine under, two off the lead.

10:11pm

Big par for Rory

McIlroy finds the green in two at the par-four 11th but he has a lengthy putt for birdie. It is a tough green and McIlroy’s putt comes up a fair way short, giving him a tricky little putt to save his par.

Young is also unable to make the birdie putt, like McIlroy, coming up short.

Two challenging par putts coming up. McIlroy rolls his in to stay at -11 and maintains his one-shot lead. Young also makes par.

10:01pm Key moments

Nervy moments

Rose has missed the green at the par-three 12th and his chip is nothing short of woeful. Oh how he would love to have that one back! He now has a job on his hands just to walk away with a bogey as he now turns to his putter. It goes a little beyond the hole so still work to do for the bogey. This feels like a huge moment in Rose’s quest to win a Green Jacket. He does sink it to drop just the one shot.

Meanwhile up on 14 Henley misses the chance to go to -11 after seeing his birdie putt slide by.

09:54pm

Pars all around

McIlroy will be happy to walk away from the 10th with a par to remain at -11. Young also makes par on ten.

Meanwhile up ahead on 18 Hatton has made a par at the last to finish his round on 10 under. He will now have to sit and wait to see whether he could make a play-off.

Tyrrell Hatton has put himself into contention after a superb final round - Brian Snyder/Reuters

09:49pm Key moments

Rose drops shot

This is a big par putt coming up for Rose on 11. It slides by the left edge and the Englishman drops back to -11 alongside McIlroy. As Oliver Brown said a few minutes ago, are we heading for another mighty tussle between Rose and McIlroy?

Up ahead on 13, Henley has made a birdie on the par five to go to -10.

09:46pm Analysis

Repeat head-to-head

This will inevitably be a hostage to fortune, but it could yet be Rory McIlroy versus Justin Rose all over again. Cameron Young is the one realistic threat but is starting to become wayward. Scottie Scheffler is struggling to find momentum, while Russell Henley is stalling and Tyrrell Hatton is running out of holes.

09:41pm

Missed opportunity

Can McIlroy take this birdie opportunity to join Rose on -12? No! It slides by the left edge and McIlroy hits the turn at 11 under.

Young walks away with a bogey, which in all honesty is not the worst result considering the way he played that hole. Young is -10 at the turn.

09:37pm

Sublime

McIlroy’s first two shots are pretty close to perfect on the par-four ninth. His drive finds the centre of the fairway before putting his approach to within 10 feet.

Young is loose off the tee, ending up in the pine straw off the right. His chip out unluckily for him ends up in a divot, which means it is tremendously hard to get it close. Young looks like he will drop a shot whilst McIlroy could gain one.

09:33pm

Henley drops back

The American, on his birthday, did not need that as bogey on 12 drops him back to nine under, three off the lead.

09:27pm

McIlroy one off the lead

The defending champion follows up a birdie on seven with a birdie on eight to move to -11, one behind Rose.

Young also makes a birdie to join McIlroy on 11 under. Things are really hotting up!

09:25pm Video

Birdie for Hatton

The Englishman’s charge continues with a birdie at the par-three 16th and, with two holes left in his round, he is now just two off the lead on -10.

09:24pm Video

On the eighth

That is quite sensational from Young. His second to the par-five eighth is pin high to the right of the green. His chip on goes beyond the pin but uses the slope off the edge of the green on the far side to roll it back towards the hole, setting up a good birdie opportunity.

McIlroy’s second into that green was sublime, setting up a possible eagle chance.

09:18pm Key moments • Video

Rose extends lead

He has come second three times at the Masters but is this going to be Justin Rose’s year. He rolls in a birdie putt on nine to hit the turn at 12 under, two shots clear.

09:17pm

Birdie for Hatton

The Englishman is on fire on this Masters Sunday, going from four under where he started to nine under with three holes left.

Meanwhile back on the ninth...

09:09pm Key moments • Video

New leader

Young will putt for par before McIlroy goes for birdie, which will give the latter a nice line. Young’s par putt slides by the left edge and he drops back to -10. Those back-to-back bogeys mean that Rose takes the outright lead on -11.

Can McIlroy finally gain some momentum? Yes he can. It was a tricky putt that was wobbling but he drains the putt to improve to 10 under.

09:05pm Analysis

Rose in a good position

Justin Rose is the joint leader of the Masters. That is some feat, 12 months on from the shattering disappointment of becoming the first player to lose two Augusta play-offs. It is testament to his extraordinary professionalism and work ethic that he is back in this position at all.

09:04pm

On the seventh

McIlroy found the fairway with his drive and then plays a good second to give him a decent shot at birdie. Young also finds the fairway but perhaps the pressure got to him as he inexplicably finds the bunker.

Up on eight Rose rolls in a birdie putt to join Young on -11. After three second-place finishes at Augusta National, will Justin Rose finally get his hands on a Green Jacket?

Henley should have joined Rose and Young at 11 under but misses the birdie put on 10.

08:58pm

Hatton’s march continues

The Englishman, still yet to win a major, started the day at four under but a birdie on 14 has taken him to eight under, which is now just three off the lead. Could he?

08:57pm

The mood of Rory fans right now!

Members of Rory McIlroy’s Holywood Golf Club are watching on and this image probably sums up the mood in County Down:

A frustrating day thus far for Rory McIlroy - Liam McBurney/PA

08:53pm Key moments

Another mistake from Rory

McIlroy, knowing a chip is fraught with danger, goes for the putter but it only just manages to get onto the green and he still has a tricky par putt coming up. The par putt slides by and the defending champion drops back to -9.

Will Young save his par? No he does not so both drop a shot, which means Young leads by just one ahead of Rose and Henley.

08:49pm

So nearly!

Scheffler, despite being wayward with his tee shot on eight, nearly walks away with a birdie but his chip just does not drop. It does feel like we are approaching a point where the winner will come from five men; Young, McIlroy, Rose, Henley or Scheffler.

08:44pm

Onto the sixth

It is a tough position on six so will either McIlroy or Young be aggressive and go straight for it? The latter goes first and finds the green but it is not going to be an easy two-putt from there.

McIlroy approaches the ball a couple of times but pulls away. As soon as he hits it, he grits his teeth and there is too much on it, going over the back of the green. He never looked quite sure over that shot.

08:40pm Video

Big save

It has not been the start to his final round that McIlroy was after as he sees a birdie putt on five slide just by the right edge.

Young has a tricky putt just to save par but The Players’ champion manages to sink that putt. Could Young become a major champion for the first time today?

Up on seven Rose has made his birdie and joins McIlroy and Henley on -10.

08:35pm Video

Into a tie for second

Russell Henley has made a birdie on the par-five eighth and moves to -10 alongside Rory McIlroy. Back on the tee at eight Scheffler’s tee shot is leaky, going into the trees on the left.

Back on seven, Justin Rose has played a sensational shot from the trees on the right and the ball ends up just a few feet from the pin. That should set up a birdie, which would take Rose to -10.

08:34pm Analysis

Unwanted stat?

Given Rory McIlroy’s struggles, he appears likely to become the first man since the inaugural Masters in 1934 to fail to win a major after holding a 36-hole lead of six shots or more. His double-bogey at the fourth, dropping him two behind Cameron Young, is a gut punch, especially given he almost holed out for birdie with his chip across the greenside bunker.

08:31pm

Momentum stalling?

Two-time Masters champion Scottie Scheffler looked like he was on a roll early on with two early birdies but he has remained at nine under for five holes. However, he is just three shots off our leader Cameron Young.

08:30pm

Former champion not there but enjoying watching

08:28pm

Challenge over?

That feels like the case for Shane Lowry, who is punished for finding the bunker off the tee at five and then hitting the lip with his second shot. He ends up with a double bogey and drops back to six under, six shots off the lead.

08:24pm Key moments • Video

Another change at the top

Young rolls in his par putt to stay at -12 so can McIlroy follow suit? No he cannot as it slides by the left edge and he still has some work to do to make bogey.

Oh no! McIlroy’s bogey putt looks set to go in on the left edge but it slides around the hole and comes back out. The defending champion walks off the fourth with a double bogey and Young’s lead grows to two shots.

When McIlroy started his third round yesterday, he was six shots clear. Now he is two shots back.

How damaging will that hole be for Rory McIlroy? - Chris Torres/Shutterstock

08:21pm

Oh no Shane!

Lowry found the bunker off the tee at the par-four fifth and he does not get enough elevation on his second shot as it hits the lip of the bunker and goes sideways, giving him an ever tougher next shot.

Meanwhile back on four...

08:20pm

On the fourth

Both of our leaders do not play the best of tee shots on the par-three fourth. McIlroy, as he did a few times yesterday, pulls his to the left and it is so far left it even misses the bunker. Young’s comes up short of the green and it will be tough to go up-and-down for par.

Young plays a lovely chip to give him a decent shot at saving par whilst McIlroy’s chip nearly goes in but rolls a bit by so there will be work to do to save par.

08:15pm Video

Into a tie for third

Justin Rose sets up a birdie on the fifth with a stunning second shot from a long way out before draining a lengthy birdie putt to move to nine under, where he joins Scottie Scheffler, who has just made a big par save at the sixth, and Russell Henley.

08:11pm Key moments • Video

Change at the top

Young blasts his birdie putt a little way past the hole and has work to do to save par.

Can McIlroy take his birdie opportunity? You bet as he rolls it in to move to -12 alongside Young but that become the outright lead if Young cannot save par.

Young rolls it straight into the middle of the hole to remain at 12 under and we once again have joint leaders.

08:04pm

How’s your luck?

Cameron Young has played well this week, that is why he is currently leading the Masters, but boy has he had some luck. Yesterday included a hugely fortuitous moment on 13, when he hit a tree to save him from disaster. Today on the third, his tee shot leaks out to the right but takes a great ricochet off a tree and lands in the fairway.

McIlroy nails his drive but it ends up in the greenside bunker.

08:02pm

On a downward spiral

Sam Burns joined the leaders on -11 when he birdied the first. Ever since, it has been a disaster for the American. A double bogey on two is followed up by a bogey on three to go back to eight under, now four shots off the lead.

The momentum seems to have stalled for Ludvig Aberg and Tyrrell Hatton, who are at six under.

07:56pm Key moments • Video

Young into solo lead

Young was lucky with this third shot that the chip did not roll back into the bunker. He then takes advantage of that luck as he rolls the birdie putt in to move to -12.

That puts Young into the lead so will McIlroy follow suit to also move to -12? The ball slides by the left edge and McIlroy stays at -11, now one behind.

07:52pm Analysis

The very best

The huge leaderboard in the Masters leaderboard shows Cam Young, Rory McIlroy and Scottie Scheffler on the top-three rungs. They are, in reverse order, world Nos 1, 2 and 3. Cream rising etc.

07:49pm

Trouble for Burns

The American was in a share of the lead for just one hole as he has a horror show on the second. It all stems from a loose tee shot into the trees down the right, which results in a penalty drop, and the hole is very loose from there on in as he ends up with a double-bogey seven to drop back to nine under. Shane Lowry though makes a birdie on that same hole to move to nine under. Burns started that hole three shots ahead of Lowry and ends it level with the Irishman.

Up ahead on three Justin Rose has undone the good work of a birdie on the first with a bogey at the third to drop back to eight under.

That’s what happens when you are wayward off the tee - Mike Blake/Reuters

07:38pm

Pressure from behind

Cameron Young’s birdie putt comes up short and he has to settle for a par.

Rory McIlroy has 11ft for an opening birdie. It is not a great first putt of the day for the defending champion, who loves it short and walks away with a par on the first.

Up on three, Scottie Scheffler has drained his birdie putt to move to nine under. Two birdies in the first three holes for the two-time Masters champion.

07:35pm

Making moves

Tyrrell Hatton is on the march; an eagle on seven is followed up by a birdie on eight to move to seven under. One shot ahead is American Russell Henley, who has made up two shots today and is eight under. Haotong Li is now also at eight under after back-to-back birdies on two and three.

07:33pm

Approaches to the first

McIlroy’s approach to the first green is good, going beyond the pin and using the slope to bring it back. He will have inside 15ft for birdie.

Young plays a pretty good shot from the bunker, finding the heart of the green but it will not be an easy putt for birdie.

07:28pm Video

New co-leader

Moments ago, we had two joint leaders and now we have three. Sam Burns has rolled in his birdie putt from 20ft to move to -11 alongside Rory McIlroy and Cameron Young. Shane Lowry through sees his par putt roll past the left edge and he drops back to eight under.

Up ahead on two, Scottie Scheffler has failed to take advantage of the par five and stays at -8.

07:26pm

Rory on the first tee

The defending champion makes his way through the huge crowds in and around the first tee and is getting ready to start his final round. Will he become just the fourth man in history to win back-to-back Green Jackets?

Cameron Young will tee off first but finds the bunker. McIlroy finds the fairway but only just as his ball nearly rolled into the bunker.

Up ahead on the first green...

07:17pm Analysis

Birdie start for Rose

The Englishman, three times a runner-up at Augusta National, has made the perfect start to his final round. He missed the green with his second but he has chipped in for birdie to move to nine under, two off the lead.

Justin Rose’s chip-in at the first chimes with his promise earlier to “have a day”. His habit of peaking for Masters Sunday is extraordinary: last year he made 10 birdies and only four pars in his round. In its way it was every bit as stirring as Rory McIlroy’s display. At 45, playing in his 21st Masters, Rose is conscious that this could realistically be his last chance. Jack Nicklaus is still the oldest winner of the Green Jacket at 46.

07:16pm

Back on the first tee

The penultimate group are getting started, with Shane Lowry at nine under and Sam Burns at -10.

Just one more pairing to go and that is the co-leaders Rory McIlroy and Cameron Young.

Up ahead on the first green...

07:08pm Video • Key moments

Sensational from Hatton

The Englishman was even par through his first six holes but he has just made an eagle on seven, holing out from 131 yards to improve to six under. You do not often see a beaming smile on Hatton’s face but there is much to be happy about. Hatton’s compatriot Aaron Rai also made an eagle on that hole earlier.

Talking of eagles, Jordan Spieth has achieved the same feat at the par-five 13th after chipping in from the bunker.

07:05pm Video

Perfect start for Scheffler

The world no1 may have been inaccurate off the tee but his second shot is sublime, fading his iron perfectly and getting spin on the ball to give him a birdie chance, which he takes to move to eight under and within three of the lead.

Despite finding the fairway with his drive, Li lets himself down with his second, failing to reach the green, and he ends up with a bogey start.

06:59pm

Bouncing back

After the double bogey on 15, Viktor Hovland finds the green on the par-three 16th and rolls the birdie putt in to go to five under.

Further back, Tommy Fleetwood’s round is going from bad to worse; he has dropped three shots in six holes to move back to one under.

06:56pm

Scheffler on the first tee

The 2022 and 2024 Masters champion is getting ready to begin his final round. He starts the day at seven under, four shots off the lead, and is playing alongside Haotong Li, who is also -7 after a fine round yesterday. Scheffler’s tee shot looks like it has just evaded the fairway bunkers to the right. Li meanwhile cuts his drive to perfection, finding the fairway.

One man a few holes ahead making moves is American Jake Knapp, whose birdies on the first and third have taken him to seven under.

06:46pm

Hovland’s momentum dramatically halted

Not that the Norwegian had any realistic chance of winning but this absolutely ends up any faint hopes he may have had of putting the leaders under pressure. Finding the water with his second at 15 is so, so costly as he ends up with a double bogey to drop from six under to -4.

06:43pm

Americans on the move

Xander Schauffele, winner of two majors in 2024, has made birdies on two and three to go to six under. Meanwhile Collin Morikawa has birdied the first to also move to -6. Morikawa was a doubt coming into this tournament having not played since injuring his back in the early stages of The Players so it is quite incredible that not only is he through more than three rounds but is also fairly near the top of the leaderboard.

Xander Schauffele is now five shots off the lead - Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images

06:39pm

Overcooked!

It was going so well for Viktor Hovland but he will want his second shot to the par-five 15th back. After sending his tee shot right down the middle of the fairway, he massively overhits his second. It not only goes off the back of the green but rolls into the water.

Back at the par-three 12th, Masters debutant Marco Penge has found the water not once but twice, from the tee and then the drop zone. It was very Jordan Spieth-esque back in 2016, which cost him back-to-back Green Jackets and helped Danny Willett to victory.

06:35pm

English watch

Both Tommy Fleetwood and Tyrrell Hatton, playing together today, were looking to quickly make inroads into the leaderboard but through four holes it has not gone to plan. Fleetwood is one over for the day, three under in the tournament, whilst Hatton’s solid start with a birdie on two has been undone by a bogey on four to drop him back to four under.

Tyrrell Hatton looking to move up the leaderboard - Maddie Meyer/Getty Images

Matt Fitzpatrick is another who was looking for a quick start but he is one over on the day through six holes and two under for the tournament.

Tommy Fleetwood is struggling early on in his final round - Maddie Meyer/Getty Images

06:32pm

Just under an hour left

Our co-leaders Rory McIlroy and Cameron Young, both at -11, start their final rounds in just under an hour. Young has been speaking on the range to CBS:

“This golf course provides plenty of opportunities, but it is just a matter of staying in my own lane, doing my own thing. Everyone is going to have their runs. It is just a matter of waiting around to have yours.”

06:28pm

You take a par there!

Viktor Hovland remains at six under but that does not tell the full story at the 14th. His tee shot is wayward, into the trees on the left, but his second is fantastic to find the green. He is aggressive with his first putt, which ends up going a good seven or eight feet past the hole. He rolls the par putt in though to stay at -6.

06:21pm

The final six groups

6:30pm: Patrick Reed, Collin Morikawa 
6:41pm: Patrick Cantlay, Russell Henley 
6:52pm: Scottie Scheffler, Haotong Li 
7:03pm: Jason Day, Justin Rose 
7:14pm: Sam Burns, Shane Lowry 
7:25pm: Cameron Young, Rory McIlroy

06:15pm

Viktor’s fine round continues

The Norwegian gave himself far too much to do today but what a day he is having. Another birdie at 13, his seventh of the day, has taken Hovland to six under.

06:14pm Opinion

Southgate in attendance

Sir Gareth Southgate, here at Augusta, is drawing parallels between Justin Rose’s fortunes and those of the England football team. On the surface, it is a plausible comparison: just as England have lost two European Championship finals, Rose has been defeated in two Masters play-offs. He will be hoping desperately that this is where the symmetry ends.

06:11pm Key moments

Charge incoming?

What a start it has been for Ludvig Aberg! Birdies at one, two and then three have moved the Swede to six under, five shots off the lead.

Could Ludvig Aberg still be in contention for the win? - Hector Vivas/Getty Images

06:09pm

Any hope already extinguished?

Tommy Fleetwood’s chances of challenging the top of the leaderboard already looked remote when he teed off and a bogey at the second has put him back to three under. His playing partner though today Tyrrell Hatton has birdied the second to improve to five under.

06:06pm

Rahm coming to the end

The 2023 Masters champion is looking to get into the red before his final round comes to a close. He started the day at five over and is now even par, thanks to a birdie on 15. He is onto the final couple of holes.

05:58pm

Back-to-back

Ludvig Aberg probably has too much to do to challenge those at the top of the leaderboard but has made a great start to his final round, making birdies at one and two to go to five under. Aberg has been in contention for some victories on the PGA Tour this season but some bad Sundays have been costly, including at The Players where he found the water at back-to-back holes when looking good for the win and not having the best of final rounds last weekend at the Valero Texas Open.

Could Ludvig Aberg win his first major today? - Gerald Herbert/AP

05:48pm

Storming round continues

Viktor Hovland will be wondering why he could not have played like he has done today for the previous three rounds. He hit the turn at four under, five under for his round, and he drains a lengthy birdie putt on the tough 11th to go to five under for the tournament.

Up ahead on 15 Jon Rahm has played a tremendous second shot from around 235 yards out to set up a potential eagle opportunity, which would put him under par for the tournament.

05:37pm

All-English pairing

We are starting to get towards the groups who have an outside chance of challenging the frontrunners. Tyrrell Hatton and Tommy Fleetwood both start at four under, seven off the lead. Both have very remote chances of putting up a fight but you never know. Hatton is wayward to the right, Fleetwood finds the fairway.

Their European Ryder Cup teammate Ludvig Aberg is up on the first green and joins them at four under.

05:33pm

Former England manager at the Masters

05:26pm

Can Rose finally win it?

The Englishman has lost two play-offs at Augusta National and finished second three times at the Masters. He starts the day on eight under, three off the lead, so could today be the day for Justin Rose to get his hands on a Green Jacket?

05:21pm

Terrific front nine

Viktor Hovland, still yet to win a major, has hit the turn after a tremendous first nine holes. He has made five birdies, the latest at the ninth, to move to four under.

Up ahead on the par-five 13th, Jon Rahm goes for the green with his second but only succeeds in finding the creek. It was so close to making it over but the bounce is not in his favour. The Spaniard has had a good day like Hovland, improving from five over to one over, but he could be about to drop a shot.

05:18pm

Sky Sports’ Butch Harmon on Rory McIlroy

“He was totally out of sync. For me, in watching him, especially with the driver. I thought the club was a little too far inside going back, and he gets a little across the line.

“And when that happens, you have got to re-route the club coming down, the club gets stuck behind you, your body gets out in front of you, the club face is open, and you don’t catch up. I do not know what he was working on last night, but he was still pretty looking pretty frustrated.”

Rory McIlroy holds a share of the lead at -11 going into the final round - Hector Vivas/Getty Images

05:16pm Opinion • Video

Naughty, naughty!

The Green Jackets should have thrown Sergio Garcia off the course for what he did on the second. Gouging lumps out of the tee would be unacceptable on some hardscrabble municipal, let alone this Arcadian setting. Were it not for his status as a past champion, the Spaniard would be in greater trouble. Even at 46, he retains an insufferably petulant streak.

05:12pm

New champion or former champion to win again?

There are three former winners in the top ten going into the final round; Rory McIlroy, Scottie Scheffler and Patrick Reed. Will one of those three be victorious again or are we going to have a new winner later today?

05:05pm

Strong starts

These two are not going to be contending to win the Green Jacket in the coming hours but two former champions have made good starts to their Sundays and are looking for a top-ten finish. 2021 champion Hideki Matsuyama, who started his final round at two under, has made birdies at the first and third to move to four under. 2015 winner Jordan Spieth, starting the day at -1, has repeated what Matsuyama has done and his two birdies have taken him to -3.

Meanwhile Viktor Hovland is also moving on up the leaderboard; in his first eight holes he has gone from one over to three under, with his latest birdie coming at the par-five eighth.

04:59pm

Sir Nick Faldo on Sky Sports

“We did predict Rory’s lead would be less than six, but I did not think we would have an actual lead change on the golf course at some stage yesterday, and here he is now tied. There are so many guys stacked up behind him, the weather is great, traditional hole locations, so they all know what to do.

“I am so impressed with Cam Young. Four over on the front nine and now here he is leading. He has just kept pushing forward, played incredibly aggressive when he won The Players, I was very impressed with that as well.”

04:55pm

The excitement to come

Thanks Luke. Kieran Crichard here to take you through the rest of this gripping final round. Take a look at when the main contenders for the Green Jacket will be heading out:

04:44pm

Marco Penge update...

The Englishman is playing in his first Masters but has dropped a shot in his round already, with a bogey on two. He made a good up and down on the par-three fourth to stay at one over for the tournament.

David Cannon/Getty Images

04:35pm

Woodland continues his good run

A birdie at the tricky 10th is his fourth of the day and puts him at four under for the day and two over overall. The pin is inviting on 10 today and he nearly holed his approach, but it left him with just a tiddler for birdie.

04:28pm

Rahm with his fifth birdie of the day

A chip-in, it seems, at the ninth after a poor approach rolls off the front of the green. Three under for the front nine today and two over for the tournament for the Spaniard.

04:18pm

Rahm is back on the birdie train

His round reads: par, birdie, birdie, par, bogey, bogey, birdie, birdie. I guess being this far back forces you to be aggressive. He has a reasonable chance at getting to level par for the tournament with a strong back nine.

04:16pm

Garcia having to tee off with a three-wood

It has not hindered him too much in recent holes, picking up his first birdie of the day on the seventh. He’s still hitting it 280 yards plus with the three-wood, mind you.

04:03pm

Viktor Hovland goes red

Birdies on two and three put him at under par for the tournament. Has been quietly going about his business this weekend after a first-round 74. He has had a top-10 finish in a major every year since the start of 2022. Will struggle to get one here, though he may end up being the highest-placed Norwegian if he can overhaul debutant Kristoffer Reitan.

03:54pm

There are birdies to be made today

That is how it should be. Gary Woodland, the 2019 US Open champion, is three under for the day after seven holes. Jon Rahm (below), who had two birdies in a row earlier on has just posted two bogeys in a row so is back to level par for the day and five over in total.

Chris Torres/Shutterstock

03:45pm

Aaron Rai back to under par for the day

That is courtesy of an eagle-two on the seventh, after holing his approach from 137 yards. He landed it about 40ft left and high of the pin and just let the ball release back down the slop and trickle into the hole for a two.

Since missing the cut in the 2022 Open he has made the cut in every major he has played in. His best finish is tied for 19th at the 2023 US Open and 2025 US PGA. Will struggle to beat that today you feel but a made cut at the Masters is never a truly bad week.

03:26pm Key moments

More on Garcia’s meltdown

He smashed his driver into the tee box so hard it appears to have snapped off. He’ll have to play the rest of the round without it. Oh well.

03:16pm

Rahm starts strongly again

He began the day on five over but birdies on holes two and three puts him back to three over and in a tie for 45th. A long way from his high standards, though.

Meanwhile, his playing partner and compatriot, Sergio Garcia, has had a poor start with three bogeys in his first three holes. His only par was on the par-five second, which is a birdie-able hole. He disliked his tee shot on the second so much that he ecided to take it out on the tee box. Eight over for the tournament now...

03:14pm Key moments

The later tee times

Lots of Stars and Stripes there...

03:01pm

Schwartzel fighting a battle not to be last

He started off with a par but then followed it up with a bogey, double bogey and bogey.

The six came after a 321-yard drive with just 35 yards to the pin. What happened after that? He chipped long and off the green, before a “putt” with a hybrid rolls long off the other side of the green. His third chip then fails to reach the green and rolls back to his feet...  his fourth chip is a good one, 2.5ft from the hole and he sinks the putt.

That poor run puts him to 13 over, five off the second-bottom player, Aaron Rai. Could be a long day for the 2011 champion.

02:52pm

What did McIlroy do after his third round yesterday?

Went to the range and smashed some balls. 47 of them, to be precise. Looks like he worked his way through the bag from 54 degree wedge to nine-iron, six-iron and through to driver, for which he hit 11, including quite a few cuts. Then it was back to his pitching wedge for some 150-yard shots at a target.

Interesting. If you find that kind of thing interesting, that is.

02:47pm

Woodland with a birdie on the par-five second

He nails his drive 301 yards to leave 290, but then over-draws his approach long and left into the gallery. A perfectly weighted pitch leaves him four feet for birdie, which he sinks.

02:29pm

Pars for Schwartzel, Rai and Woodland on the first

Kurt Kitayama has birdied it, though, to move to six over for the tournament. A fine approach shot from 162 left him an eight-foot putt which he duly drained.

02:14pm

Final round tee times, the early starters

The first group are already away. Aaron Rai finds the left fairway with his drive whilst former champion Charl Schwartzel caresses a three wood, I believe, just short of the right fairway bunker.

01:48pm

What has McIlroy got left?

Welcome to our coverage for the fourth and final round of the 2026 Masters. Just as it looked like Rory McIlroy would carry some sort of lead heading into Sunday, Augusta National and its patrons witness a thrilling Saturday that sets up what could be a fascinating final day.

After rounds of 67 and 65 on Thursday and Friday, an erratic, error-strewn one-over 73 from the defending champion means he shares the lead with Cameron Young at 11 under. That leaves the top 11 players on the leaderboard within five shots, with another nine players within seven shots of the overall lead.

That McIlroy was the only player in the top 12 to shoot over par says a lot. His driving was wide of the mark, literally, in the first two rounds but on Saturday he could not find the gaps or the fortune to be able to recover. It was a round that never really got going and then stuttered along with mistakes with a variety of clubs in a variety of situations.

Hector Vivas/Getty Images

Compare his day to two Americans: Cameron Young and Scottie Scheffler. They both shot seven-under 65s to climb up the leaderboard. Plenty of majors over the last 20 years have had European, British and Irish golfers in contention before a relentless American steals in with a strong finish. Or that’s how it seems to me, anyway.

If McIlroy is to become the fourth man to successfully defend his Masters title then he will need to find some inner steel and likely a few more fairways, too. I imagine it could be a riveting and pulsating watch from start to finish, whatever McIlroy does.

The first groups are out shortly with the final group out at 7.25pm this evening.

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