Rory McIlroy eyes rare back-to-back Masters win

Rory McIlroy began his title defense at the Masters with a stellar 5-under 67. He was tied for the lead with Sam Burns when he signed his scorecard just before 4 p.m. ET on Thursday.

In 2025, McIlroy won the Green Jacket to become just the sixth golfer to ever complete the Career Grand Slam by winning all four majors. But if he wins the Masters again this year, he'd join company even rarer than that. Here's a look at the three players who have won back-to-back Masters titles in the 90-year history of the iconic event.

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Jack Nicklaus: 1965, 1966

Jack Nicklaus dusted the field at the 1965 Masters, shooting 64 on Saturday and 69 on Sunday to finish 17 under and win by nine shots over a tie for second between Arnold Palmer and Gary Player. The following year was a much different story, but it produced the same result. Nicklaus, Tommy Jacobs and Gay Brewer all finished at even par, forcing an 18-hole Monday playoff in which Nicklaus fired 2-under 70 to secure his second straight Masters victory, while Jacobs shot 72 and Brewer blew up with a 6-over 78.

In 1965, it was Arnold Palmer's turn to help Jack Nicklaus after Nicklaus won the Masters. (Augusta National/Getty Images)

Nick Faldo: 1989, 1990

Nick Faldo entered the final round of the 1989 Masters in a tie for ninth before charging up the leaderboard on Sunday with a 7-under 65, forcing a sudden-death playoff with Scott Hoch. Faldo and Hoch both bogeyed the 10th on the first playoff hole before Faldo made birdie at No. 11 to secure his first Green Jacket. The following year, Faldo found himself in another sudden-death playoff, this time with Raymond Floyd. Faldo went par-par on Nos. 10 and 11 in the playoff to defeat Floyd and become the second back-to-back Masters winner.

Nick Faldo won the 1989 Masters in a playoff over Scott Hoch.

Tiger Woods: 2001, 2002

Tiger Woods is the most recent player to win consecutive Green Jackets. In 2001, Woods shot under par in every round of the tournament, finishing 16 under to win by two shots over David Duval. The next year at Augusta National saw a very similar result, as Woods once again finished every round under par, including a 66 on Saturday, to finish the week 12 under and three shots clear of the field, securing his second straight Masters title and his third of five in his career.

Tiger Woods (L) gets his third green jacket from tournament chairman Hootie Johnson (R) after winning the 2002 Masters golf tournament at the Augusta National Golf Club in Augusta, GA. Woods finished the round one under par for a four day total of 12 under par.

This article originally appeared on Golfweek: Has anyone ever won Masters back to back at Augusta National?