McIlroy joins Tiger Woods in a very exclusive club as one of only four golfers ever, alongside Jack Nicklaus and Nick Faldo, to retain the Green Jacket. Woods was the most recent to achieve the incredible feat in 2002. And 12 months after completing his career Grand Slam and ending an 11-year wait for a Major, McIlroy has now lifted the Masters Trophy twice in two years.
McIlroy headed into round three with a six-shot lead but after a one-over-par 73, ended Saturday tied for the lead with Cam Young. And on his fourth go around Augusta, the Northern Irishman gave up three shots on the two front-nine par-threes and looked in real trouble.
But the 36-year-old recovered after that with four birdies and three pars to regain control. McIlroy managed four consecutive pars, including a brilliant save on 16, before a bogey at the last as he claimed the £3.3million ($4.5m) winner’s prize.
Now a six-time Major champion, McIlroy’s final round of one-under saw him finish with a single-shot cushion to Scheffler, who carded a 68 following his incredible Saturday 65. The American ultimately paid the price for his two-over second round on Friday.
Justin Rose ended on 10-under, one shot adrift of Scheffler. Three bogeys in the last eight holes cost the Englishman, 45, who has previously finished second at this tournament three times in his career, including in 2025, when he lost in a play-off to McIlroy. Rose was one of four players who tied for third alongside Young, Tyrrell Hatton and Russell Henley.
Reacting to his Masters win, McIlroy said: “I can’t believe waited 17 years to get one Green Jacket and now I’ve got two in a row, it’s just sort of the way.
“I think all my perseverance at this golf tournament over the years has really started to pay off. It was a tough weekend, I did the bulk of my work on Thursday and Friday, but just so so happy to hang in and get the job done.”
When asked how special it was for his mum and dad to be there to witness it, McIlroy replied: “Yeah incredible, it’s the second major win my mum’s been at, she was at The Open in 2014.
“There was a piece of them that didn’t want to come this year, as they thought, ‘Okay we didn’t come last year, maybe that was the reason’, but I’m so glad they got to experience this today and we’re all going to have a great time tonight!”
Meanwhile, Faldo spoke about McIlroy’s win and branded it as “incredible”.
“All credit to him,” he said. “Incredible. He’s got another major to his name. All he needs now is to win another US Open and another Open Championship and then he’ll be a two-time Grand Slam champion.
“That’s his goal. To get there along with the likes of Jack [Nicklaus] and Tiger [Woods]. He’s unique. Rory is the only one out of those guys to go 11 years between wins, and then he’s added another one.”