McIlroy repeats at Augusta

Rory McIlroy won the Masters again on Sunday, beating Scottie Scheffler by one shot for a second straight green jacket at Augusta National. (skysports.com) McIlroy finished at 12-under 276, with Scheffler second and Justin Rose, Tyrrell Hatton, Cameron Young and Russell Henley tied for third. Golfweek reported McIlroy became the fourth player to win back-to-back Masters titles. (golfweek.usatoday.com) The win was McIlroy’s 30th on the PGA Tour and his sixth major championship. The PGA Tour said he sealed it after a late surge that included a decisive shot at the par-3 12th on Sunday. (pgatour.com) Augusta National also raised the tournament purse to a record $22.5 million, and McIlroy’s winner’s share was $4.5 million. That was the largest first-place payout in Masters history. (golfchannel.com) McIlroy is now level with Nick Faldo on six majors, according to Sky Sports, and he is the first player since Tiger Woods to defend a Masters title successfully. The result adds another Augusta chapter to a rivalry that also included Scheffler, the world No. 1, finishing one back. (skysports.com) The final round did not turn into a runaway. Reports from Golf Channel and The Athletic said McIlroy had to fend off charges from Scheffler, Rose and Young on a Sunday that tightened repeatedly over the closing holes. (golfchannel.com) (nytimes.com) The Masters opened the men’s major season in Augusta, Georgia, and McIlroy arrived as the defending champion after ending his long wait for a first green jacket in 2025. His repeat win moves him into a shorter list of Augusta champions who have won there more than once. (skysports.com) (golfweek.usatoday.com) McIlroy said after the round that he did not make it easy on himself, and the finish matched that description. He left Augusta with another green jacket, another major, and the narrowest margin possible over the top player chasing him. (nbcsports.com) (skysports.com)