Rory McIlroy celebrated his 2026 Masters title for ten days, with Kansas City Chiefs' Travis Kelce cheering him on during the tournament. Kelce expressed his excitement on his podcast, highlighting their camaraderie.
Key points
Rory McIlroy won the 2026 Masters title.
He celebrated for ten days following his victory.
Travis Kelce cheered loudly for McIlroy during the tournament.
Kelce discussed his support for McIlroy on his podcast.
McIlroy appeared on the 'New Heights' podcast on May 6.
Rory McIlroyTravis Kelce
As he chased a second consecutive Masters title, Rory McIlroy could hear a familiar voice among the patrons at Augusta National Golf Club.
Travis Kelce's.
The Kansas City Chiefs tight end offered some of the loudest cheers for McIlroy during the second and third rounds of the 2026 Masters, as he related on the latest edition of his "New Heights" podcast.
"I was (expletive) screaming it: Back to back, baby, let's go, let's go," Kelce told McIlroy, who appeared as a guest on the May 6 episode.
These images tracked McIlroy through the final round as he finished on top of the leaderboard at the Masters.
Above, Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland played his shot from the seventh tee during the final round of the 2026 Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club on April 12, 2026, in Augusta, Georgia.
Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland putts on the second green during the final round of the 2026 Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club on April 12, 2026, in Augusta, Georgia.
Q&A
What did Rory McIlroy say about his celebration after winning the 2026 Masters?
Rory McIlroy mentioned that he spent a solid ten days celebrating his victory at the 2026 Masters.
Who cheered for Rory McIlroy during the 2026 Masters?
Travis Kelce, the Kansas City Chiefs tight end, was one of the loudest supporters for McIlroy during the tournament.
What did Travis Kelce say on his podcast about McIlroy's performance?
Travis Kelce expressed his excitement by shouting 'Back to back, baby, let's go' while cheering for McIlroy during the Masters.
When did Rory McIlroy appear on Travis Kelce's podcast?
Rory McIlroy appeared as a guest on the May 6 episode of Travis Kelce's 'New Heights' podcast.
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Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland walks off the fourth tee during the final round of the 2026 Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club on April 12, 2026, in Augusta, Georgia.
Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland plays his shot from the third tee during the final round of the 2026 Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club on April 12, 2026, in Augusta, Georgia.
Rory McIlroy plays an approach shot on the 15th hole during the final round of the Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club.
Rory McIlroy putts on the ninth green during the final round of the Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club.
Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland walks to the seventh green during the final round of the 2026 Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club on April 12, 2026, in Augusta, Georgia.
Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland and caddie Harry Diamon wait on the first fairway during the final round of the 2026 Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club on April 12, 2026, in Augusta, Georgia.
Rory McIlroy walks on the sixth green during the final round of the Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club.
Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland plays his shot from the fifth tee during the final round of the 2026 Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club on April 12, 2026, in Augusta, Georgia.
Patrons watch as Rory McIlroy tees off on the third hole during the final round of the Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club.
Rory McIlroy watches his putt on the 15th green during the final round of the Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club.
Rory McIlroy reacts toward the patrons after making a birdie putt on the eighth green during the final round of the Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club.
Rory McIlroy walks the 13th fairway during the final round of the Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club.
Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland plays a shot on the fifth hole during the final round of the 2026 Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club on April 12, 2026, in Augusta, Georgia.
Rory McIlroy tees off on the 12th hole during the final round of the Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club.
Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland plays his shot from the third tee during the final round of the 2026 Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club on April 12, 2026, in Augusta, Georgia.
Cameron Young and Rory McIlroy prepare to putt on the 11th green during the final round of the Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club.
Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland lines up a putt on the fourth green during the final round of the 2026 Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club on April 12, 2026, in Augusta, Georgia.
Rory McIlroy gestures to patrons after putting for a birdie on the 13th green during the final round of the Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club. Cameron Young putted for par.
Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland walks to the fourth tee during the final round of the 2026 Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club on April 12, 2026 in Augusta, Georgia.
Cameron Young of the United States and Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland walks the second fairway during the final round of the 2026 Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club on April 12, 2026, in Augusta, Georgia.
Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland plays a shot on the fifth hole during the final round of the 2026 Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club on April 12, 2026, in Augusta, Georgia.
Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland reacts on the fourth green during the final round of the 2026 Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club on April 12, 2026, in Augusta, Georgia.
Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland reacts on the fourth green during the final round of the 2026 Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club on April 12, 2026, in Augusta, Georgia.
Rory McIlroy reacts towards the patrons after making a birdie on the third hole during the final round of the Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club.
Rory McIlroy walks up to the first green during the final round of the Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club.
Rory McIlroy plays a shot from a bunker on the second fairway during the final round of the Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club.
Rory McIlroy reacts on the fifth green during the final round of the Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club.
Rory McIlroy takes a shot on the first fairway during the final round of the Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club.
Rory McIlroy, caddie caddie Harry Diamond and Cameron Young, and caddie Kyle Sterbinsky walk up the first fairway during the final round of the Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club.
Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland and his caddie Harry Diamond waits on the 17th hole during the final round of the 2026 Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club on April 12, 2026, in Augusta, Georgia.
Rory McIlroy looks over the 16th green during the final round of the Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club.
Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland plays a shot on the 13th hole during the final round of the 2026 Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club on April 12, 2026, in Augusta, Georgia.
Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland lines up a shot on the 18th green during the final round of the 2026 Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club on April 12, 2026, in Augusta, Georgia.
Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland chips onto the 17th green during the final round of the 2026 Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club on April 12, 2026, in Augusta, Georgia.
Rory McIlroy reacts after a putt on the fifth green during the final round of the Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club.
Rory McIlroy greets Cameron Young before teeing off on the first hole during the final round of the Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club.
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Rory McIlroy earns a second green jacket at the 2026 Masters
These images tracked McIlroy through the final round as he finished on top of the leaderboard at the Masters.
Above, Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland played his shot from the seventh tee during the final round of the 2026 Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club on April 12, 2026, in Augusta, Georgia.
1 / 38
Rory McIlroy earns a second green jacket at the 2026 Masters
These images tracked McIlroy through the final round as he finished on top of the leaderboard at the Masters.
Above, Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland played his shot from the seventh tee during the final round of the 2026 Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club on April 12, 2026, in Augusta, Georgia.
2 / 38
Rory McIlroy earns a second green jacket at the 2026 Masters
Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland putts on the second green during the final round of the 2026 Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club on April 12, 2026, in Augusta, Georgia.
3 / 38
Rory McIlroy earns a second green jacket at the 2026 Masters
Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland walks off the fourth tee during the final round of the 2026 Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club on April 12, 2026, in Augusta, Georgia.
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Rory McIlroy earns a second green jacket at the 2026 Masters
Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland plays his shot from the third tee during the final round of the 2026 Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club on April 12, 2026, in Augusta, Georgia.
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Rory McIlroy earns a second green jacket at the 2026 Masters
Rory McIlroy plays an approach shot on the 15th hole during the final round of the Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club.
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Rory McIlroy earns a second green jacket at the 2026 Masters
Rory McIlroy putts on the ninth green during the final round of the Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club.
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Rory McIlroy earns a second green jacket at the 2026 Masters
Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland walks to the seventh green during the final round of the 2026 Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club on April 12, 2026, in Augusta, Georgia.
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Rory McIlroy earns a second green jacket at the 2026 Masters
Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland and caddie Harry Diamon wait on the first fairway during the final round of the 2026 Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club on April 12, 2026, in Augusta, Georgia.
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Rory McIlroy earns a second green jacket at the 2026 Masters
Rory McIlroy walks on the sixth green during the final round of the Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club.
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Rory McIlroy earns a second green jacket at the 2026 Masters
Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland plays his shot from the fifth tee during the final round of the 2026 Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club on April 12, 2026, in Augusta, Georgia.
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Rory McIlroy earns a second green jacket at the 2026 Masters
Patrons watch as Rory McIlroy tees off on the third hole during the final round of the Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club.
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Rory McIlroy earns a second green jacket at the 2026 Masters
Rory McIlroy watches his putt on the 15th green during the final round of the Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club.
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Rory McIlroy earns a second green jacket at the 2026 Masters
Rory McIlroy reacts toward the patrons after making a birdie putt on the eighth green during the final round of the Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club.
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Rory McIlroy earns a second green jacket at the 2026 Masters
Rory McIlroy walks the 13th fairway during the final round of the Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club.
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Rory McIlroy earns a second green jacket at the 2026 Masters
Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland plays a shot on the fifth hole during the final round of the 2026 Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club on April 12, 2026, in Augusta, Georgia.
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Rory McIlroy earns a second green jacket at the 2026 Masters
Rory McIlroy tees off on the 12th hole during the final round of the Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club.
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Rory McIlroy earns a second green jacket at the 2026 Masters
Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland plays his shot from the third tee during the final round of the 2026 Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club on April 12, 2026, in Augusta, Georgia.
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Rory McIlroy earns a second green jacket at the 2026 Masters
Cameron Young and Rory McIlroy prepare to putt on the 11th green during the final round of the Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club.
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Rory McIlroy earns a second green jacket at the 2026 Masters
Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland lines up a putt on the fourth green during the final round of the 2026 Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club on April 12, 2026, in Augusta, Georgia.
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Rory McIlroy earns a second green jacket at the 2026 Masters
Rory McIlroy gestures to patrons after putting for a birdie on the 13th green during the final round of the Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club. Cameron Young putted for par.
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Rory McIlroy earns a second green jacket at the 2026 Masters
Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland walks to the fourth tee during the final round of the 2026 Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club on April 12, 2026 in Augusta, Georgia.
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Rory McIlroy earns a second green jacket at the 2026 Masters
Cameron Young of the United States and Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland walks the second fairway during the final round of the 2026 Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club on April 12, 2026, in Augusta, Georgia.
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Rory McIlroy earns a second green jacket at the 2026 Masters
Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland plays a shot on the fifth hole during the final round of the 2026 Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club on April 12, 2026, in Augusta, Georgia.
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Rory McIlroy earns a second green jacket at the 2026 Masters
Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland reacts on the fourth green during the final round of the 2026 Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club on April 12, 2026, in Augusta, Georgia.
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Rory McIlroy earns a second green jacket at the 2026 Masters
Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland reacts on the fourth green during the final round of the 2026 Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club on April 12, 2026, in Augusta, Georgia.
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Rory McIlroy earns a second green jacket at the 2026 Masters
Rory McIlroy reacts towards the patrons after making a birdie on the third hole during the final round of the Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club.
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Rory McIlroy earns a second green jacket at the 2026 Masters
Rory McIlroy walks up to the first green during the final round of the Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club.
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Rory McIlroy earns a second green jacket at the 2026 Masters
Rory McIlroy plays a shot from a bunker on the second fairway during the final round of the Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club.
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Rory McIlroy earns a second green jacket at the 2026 Masters
Rory McIlroy reacts on the fifth green during the final round of the Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club.
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Rory McIlroy earns a second green jacket at the 2026 Masters
Rory McIlroy takes a shot on the first fairway during the final round of the Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club.
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Rory McIlroy earns a second green jacket at the 2026 Masters
Rory McIlroy, caddie caddie Harry Diamond and Cameron Young, and caddie Kyle Sterbinsky walk up the first fairway during the final round of the Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club.
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Rory McIlroy earns a second green jacket at the 2026 Masters
Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland and his caddie Harry Diamond waits on the 17th hole during the final round of the 2026 Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club on April 12, 2026, in Augusta, Georgia.
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Rory McIlroy earns a second green jacket at the 2026 Masters
Rory McIlroy looks over the 16th green during the final round of the Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club.
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Rory McIlroy earns a second green jacket at the 2026 Masters
Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland plays a shot on the 13th hole during the final round of the 2026 Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club on April 12, 2026, in Augusta, Georgia.
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Rory McIlroy earns a second green jacket at the 2026 Masters
Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland lines up a shot on the 18th green during the final round of the 2026 Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club on April 12, 2026, in Augusta, Georgia.
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Rory McIlroy earns a second green jacket at the 2026 Masters
Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland chips onto the 17th green during the final round of the 2026 Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club on April 12, 2026, in Augusta, Georgia.
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Rory McIlroy earns a second green jacket at the 2026 Masters
Rory McIlroy reacts after a putt on the fifth green during the final round of the Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club.
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Rory McIlroy earns a second green jacket at the 2026 Masters
Rory McIlroy greets Cameron Young before teeing off on the first hole during the final round of the Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club.
After winning his sixth career major title, McIlroy told Kelce and his brother Jason that he spent "a solid 10 days of celebrating and enjoying it" after leaving Augusta.
But then it was right back to work.
"I felt after last year," McIlroy said, "not that I got complacent but I got a little like, this thing you wanted to do your whole life and you do it and then it's like OK, well what's next? And I sort of went through that lull I think all athletes go through where it's like OK I've achieved the dream. I've achieved everything I've wanted to achieve.
"So I just didn't want to fall back into that again this year."
McIlroy told the Kelces he tried not to think about golf for those 10 days. "I celebrated. I had a good time. But I've been practicing for the last 10 days and, you know, there's still a lot of golf left this season and I feel like I'm in such a good spot that I don't want to waste a couple months of the season like I did last year. But look, I've enjoyed it. Absolutely. But I feel like it's time to lock back in."
Rory McIlroy on the difference between 2025, 2026 Masters wins
McIlroy was asked to compare this year's win at Augusta to last year's – when he won his first green jacket and completed the career Grand Slam.
"I don't think anything will ever touch last year's. It's 17 years, you're waiting to do this thing and you get to the point and you wonder if it's ever going to happen. And then just the emotion and, yeah, I don't think anything will top just the euphoria of it all last year.
Augusta National Golf Club chairman Fred Ridley places the green jacket on Rory McIlroy during the green jacket ceremony after the final round of the Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club on April 12, 2026.
Augusta National Golf Club chairman Fred Ridley places the green jacket on Rory McIlroy during the green jacket ceremony after the final round of the Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club on April 12, 2026.
"But I think this year was validation. Like, I proved last year that I could do it at this place, and then I go back and, you know, arguably without my best stuff. I built a really big lead over the first two days, but to get it done in the manner in which I did it – lost the lead on Sunday, came back, played really solid to get it done. I think just validation on my part that this is where I should be. This is the level that I should be operating at."
McIlroy didn't exactly lean into his Northern Ireland roots for his culinary selections. The main course options of wagyu filet mignon and seared salmon, along with grilled elk sliders and Vidalia onion rings earned the defending champ a little good-natured ribbing from folks back home.
"I made a quip in the press conference where I said people have asked me why I didn't do more of an Irish theme," McIlroy explained, "and I said well, I wanted to enjoy the dinner as well."
When asked if he had any ideas for next year's Champions Dinner, McIlroy said he might go in a different direction.
"I went pretty fancy this year," he said. "It's always on a Tuesday night, so I could just do a Taco Tuesday or something. I don't know. We'll see. I haven't thought about it too much."