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Rory McIlroy wins Masters for second straight year, by one stroke
TL;DR
Rory McIlroy won the Masters Tournament for the second consecutive year on April 12, finishing one stroke ahead of Scottie Scheffler. He rallied from two strokes behind and secured the victory with a final score of 12-under-par 276.
AUGUSTA, Ga. | Rory McIlroy battled back for the second year in a row to win his second Masters Tournament in a row on a hazy and unseasonably hot day on April 12 at the Augusta National Golf Club.
McIlroy didn't need to go to a playoff as in 2025 but it was still hard work all the same, as he rallied from two strokes behind Cameron Young through six holes, then held off charges by first Justin Rose and then two-time Masters winner Scottie Scheffler to finish with a 71 and a 72-hole total of 12-under-par 276, one shot clear of Scheffler (68) and two over playing partner Young (73), Rose (70), Tyrrell Hatton (66) and Russell Henley (68).
Collin Morikawa (68) had five birdies in a row on the second nine and finished in a tie for seventh with Sam Burns (73) at 9-under.
It was typical McIlroy drama to the end. With a two-shot lead, McIroy sliced his drive at No. 18 far to the right. The ball could have ended at the base of a tree or in an unplayable lie, but it came to rest on a patch of pine straw that gave him a full swing.
McIlroy curled an 8-iron around a tall pine tree and into the front-left greenside bunker. He blasted out from there and, needing only a bogey to win, he two-putted from 12 feet for the victory.
Rory McIlroy joins elite company
McIlroy became the fourth player to win back-to-back Masters titles. Jack Nicklaus was the first in 1965 and 1966, Nick Faldo did it in 1989 and 1990 and Tiger Woods won in 2001 and 2002.
McIlroy fell out of a tie for the lead with Young when he double-bogeyed the par-3 fourth hole on a three-putt from 6 feet, then bogeyed the next par-3 hole, No. 6, when he missed a 12-foot par attempt. Young was 1-under through five holes and had a two-shot lead.
But McIlroy finally figured out his balky driver, used massive tee shots to set up birdies at Nos. 7 and 8 and regained the lead for good when Rose, his playoff opponent last year, bogeyed Nos. 11 and 12.
McIlroy added birdies at Nos. 12 and 13 and preserved his lead with a nervy putt off the back fringe at the par-3 16th, with the ball rolling slowly downhill from 45 feet away and snuggling inches from the hole.
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Scottie Scheffler, Justin Rose charges fizzle at the end
In the meantime, Scheffler's rally, with birdies at Nos. 15, 16 and 17, ended when his second shot came up short of the 18th green. Rose, who birdied Nos. 7, 8 and 9, was short of the green on both of his last two holes to exhaust his last chances.
Young who bogeyed three of his last four holes on Augusta's first nine, had birdie looks on eight holes in a row on the second nine, starting with a 24-foot attempt at No. 10, but never took advantage.
Rory McIlroy waves to patrons of the Augusta National Golf Club after making a birdie at the seventh hole on April 12 during the final round of the Masters Tournament.
Rory McIlroy has six major titles, 30 PGA Tour victories
McIlroy won his 30th PGA Tour title in 12 seasons and his sixth major championship. He has tied Phil Mickelson, Lee Trevino and Nick Faldo for 12th on the all-time list of major victories and is tied with Harry Cooper and Horton Smith for 16th all-time for PGA Tour victories.
It was McIlroy's first PGA Tour title since his Masters victory in 2025 and his first worldwide victory since the 2025 Imgen Irish Open seven months ago.
McIlroy earned $4.5 million and 750 FedExCup points for the victory. It was a record first-place share of the tournament's $22.5 million total purse (also a Masters record) and will bump his earnings this season to more than $6.7 million.
McIlroy is projected to go from 24th to seventh on the FedEx Cup points list, a season-long race he has won three times.
The first-place Masters check matches The Players Championship for the biggest in professional golf.
This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Rory McIlroy wins Masters, capturing his second green jacket in a row
Q&A
How did Rory McIlroy win the Masters Tournament in 2026?
Rory McIlroy won the 2026 Masters by overcoming a two-stroke deficit and finishing with a score of 12-under-par 276, one stroke ahead of Scottie Scheffler.
What was Rory McIlroy's final score at the 2026 Masters?
Rory McIlroy's final score at the 2026 Masters was 12-under-par 276.
Who were the top competitors against Rory McIlroy in the 2026 Masters?
The top competitors against Rory McIlroy included Scottie Scheffler, who finished one stroke behind, and Cameron Young, Justin Rose, Tyrrell Hatton, and Russell Henley, who all finished two strokes back.
What challenges did McIlroy face during the final round of the 2026 Masters?
During the final round, McIlroy faced challenges from competitors like Justin Rose and Scottie Scheffler, and he had a dramatic moment on the 18th hole where he sliced his drive but managed to recover and secure the win.
