McIlroy defends Masters

Rory McIlroy left Augusta National with the green jacket again on Sunday, edging Scottie Scheffler by one shot for a second straight Masters title. (espn.com) McIlroy closed at 12-under 276 after a final-round 71, and his bogey on the 18th hole still left Scheffler one back at 11-under. (espn.com) The turn came on Augusta National’s second nine, where McIlroy birdied the 12th and 13th holes after briefly losing the lead earlier in the round. (pgatour.com) The win made McIlroy the first player to defend a Masters title since Tiger Woods won in 2001 and 2002, and only the fourth man to win the tournament in consecutive years. (espn.com) That list is short because Augusta National rarely gives champions the same week twice: before McIlroy, the only back-to-back winners were Jack Nicklaus, Nick Faldo and Woods. (espn.com) McIlroy had entered Sunday after letting a six-shot lead shrink during Saturday’s third round, which turned the final day into a chase instead of a coronation. (espn.com) Scheffler’s runner-up finish kept the pressure on through the back nine, while Cameron Young, Russell Henley, Justin Rose and Tyrrell Hatton finished tied for third at 10-under. (cbssports.com) The paycheck matched the result: McIlroy earned $4.5 million from a record $22.5 million purse, with every player in the top four clearing $1 million. (cbssports.com) A year after completing the career Grand Slam at Augusta, McIlroy now has two green jackets and six major championships. (golfweek.usatoday.com) At 18, the margin was down to a single shot, but the tournament still ended the same way it began the week: McIlroy in green at Augusta. (espn.com)