McIlroy repeats at Augusta

Rory McIlroy won the Masters again on Sunday, beating Scottie Scheffler by one shot to keep the green jacket at Augusta National. (masters.com) McIlroy closed with a 1-under 71 and finished at 12-under 276 in the 90th Masters, while Scheffler shot 68 to finish at 11-under 277. (masters.com) Justin Rose, Tyrrell Hatton, Cameron Young and Russell Henley tied for third at 10-under 278, one shot behind Scheffler and two behind McIlroy. (espn.com) The repeat put McIlroy in a group of four back-to-back Masters winners: Jack Nicklaus in 1965 and 1966, Nick Faldo in 1989 and 1990, Tiger Woods in 2001 and 2002, and now McIlroy in 2025 and 2026. (masters.com) It also extended the run that began a year earlier, when McIlroy won the 2025 Masters to complete the career Grand Slam, making Augusta the site of his last two major titles. (apnews.com) This one looked different from his first Augusta win. McIlroy led by a record six shots after 36 holes, shot 73 on Saturday as the field closed in, then recovered with a steadier 71 on Sunday after briefly losing the lead on the front nine. (masters.com) (espn.com) The turn came at Amen Corner, Augusta National’s stretch of holes 11, 12 and 13, where McIlroy made a key birdie at the par-3 12th after reading shifting wind on one of the course’s most dangerous tee shots. (masters.com) Scheffler still produced one of the week’s sharpest finishes. His 65 on Saturday and 68 on Sunday made him the first player since 1942 to play the weekend at Augusta without a bogey, but it still left him one stroke short. (cbsnews.com) McIlroy said in the Green Jacket Ceremony that he “did want to come back here and prove last year wasn’t a fluke,” then walked off Augusta’s 18th green with a second straight Masters trophy and a sixth major title. (masters.com)