Rory McIroy takes circuitous route to repeat Masters win: 'I don’t make it easy'

Rory McIroy takes circuitous route to repeat Masters win: 'I don’t make it easy'

AUGUSTA, GA — It is the rare Masters champion who, with just one hole to play, only a few minutes from victory, is wondering where in the world his tee shot has landed.

“Walking off the 18th tee not knowing where my ball was, I think that was the moment of greatest stress. It could go anywhere. It could be anywhere.”

With those words, Rory McIlroy appropriately described the twists and turns of his unique path to glory, one that saw an historic six-shot lead at the halfway point of the Masters evaporate into a three-shot deficit in its final round before McIlroy regained some semblance of control with nearly a half dozen worthy competitors giving chase.

So there McIlroy stood on the 18th tee with a rather comfortable two-stroke lead, watching his tee shot fly so far from where it was supposed to go that it ended up closer to the wrong fairway, the 10th, than the one he was aiming for, the 18th.

“I don’t make it easy,” McIlroy said later.

Rory McIlroy closed out the 2026 Masters Tournament at Augusta National with a final‑round performance that secured victory on Sunday.

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.

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

Rory McIlroy closed out the 2026 Masters Tournament at Augusta National with a final‑round performance that secured victory on Sunday.

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

Rory McIlroy closed out the 2026 Masters Tournament at Augusta National with a final‑round performance that secured victory on Sunday.

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.

4 / 38

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.

And that’s when he wondered if it might be “in a really bad spot or behind a tree,” he said. “I was just hoping that I had a swing.”

It turned out that he did. In fact, it was fitting that McIlroy’s grand plan to clinch his second consecutive Masters title was something that could have been hatched in a sports movie. He launched a towering 8-iron over not only a menacing tree but even the scoreboard on the 18th green, landing it, well — no one was exactly sure where. The TV camera people were fooled. Where was it?

It turned out the ball was nestled in a bunker guarding the front left of the green, not the best place to be, but also not the worst. McIlroy wasted no time and blasted out to 15 feet from the hole, then putted to within a few inches, then smiled. It was over and he knew it. He knew he would make that tiny putt for a bogey and a one-shot win and become the first repeat Masters champion since Tiger Woods in 2002, and only the fourth in history.

So moments later when the ball fell into the hole, McIlroy, 36, tossed his head back and yelled and shed a tear or two. He hugged his caddy and eventually his daughter and his wife and his parents, who had come in from Northern Ireland after missing his victory last year.

There is rarely a press conference or interview that goes by that McIlroy doesn’t mention his mom and dad, thanking them for the opportunities they gave him, an only child.

“I caught myself on the golf course a couple of times thinking about them,” McIlory said, “and I was like no, not yet, not yet. It’s really cool to have them here. They missed it last year, and the first thing I wanted to do was fly home to see them because I obviously wouldn't be sitting up here if it wasn't for them.”

One might think that the Masters champion’s parents would have no qualms about coming to the tournament the next year to see their son defend his title. Not the McIlroys.

“I had to sort of convince them to come this year because they thought the reason I won last year was because they weren't here,” McIlroy said. “I’m glad we proved that wrong so they can keep coming as long as they want.”

In both of his Masters triumphs, McIlroy has run the gamut of emotions: taking the lead, losing it, regaining it, hanging on for dear life. This is who McIlroy is and this is how he plays.

He is typically honest about it. “Having a six-shot lead going into the weekend, it would have been a bitter pill to swallow if I wasn't able to get myself over the finish line,” he said.

It wasn’t easy, but he did it, revealing another McIlroy strength: instant perspective, especially his ability to marvel at the moment.

“I can’t believe I waited 17 years to get one green jacket, and now I get two in a row.”

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Rory McIlroy takes roundabout route to repeat Masters win