McIlroy goes back‑to‑back
Rory McIlroy won the 2026 Masters, defending his green jacket and becoming only the fourth player ever to win at Augusta in consecutive years. (x.com) He edged world No. 1 Scottie Scheffler by one stroke, while Justin Rose, Tyrrell Hatton, Cameron Young and Russell Henley shared third place on a crowded leaderboard. (skysports.com) The Athletic pinpoints a turning moment at Amen Corner — a key shot at the par‑3 12th described there as a “happy accident” — and CBS Sports reports the purse rose to $22.5 million with McIlroy’s winner’s payout at $4.5 million. ( )
Rory McIlroy won the 2026 Masters on April 12, holding off Scottie Scheffler by one stroke to keep the green jacket at Augusta National. (masters.com) McIlroy closed with a 1-under 71 and finished at 12-under 276, while Scheffler shot 68 to finish at 11-under 277. Justin Rose, Tyrrell Hatton, Cameron Young and Russell Henley tied for third at 10-under 278. (espn.com) The margin stayed tight because McIlroy’s tournament changed shape over four days. He led by a Masters-record six shots after 36 holes, then fell into a tie with Young after the third round before recovering on Sunday. (masters.com) The win put McIlroy in a short Augusta list. Masters.com said he became the fourth player to win back-to-back titles there, joining Jack Nicklaus in 1965 and 1966, Nick Faldo in 1989 and 1990, and Tiger Woods in 2001 and 2002. (masters.com) It also gave McIlroy his sixth professional major title at age 36, two years after his 2025 Masters win ended an 11-year major drought. NBC Sports said the 2026 victory made him the first player since Woods to defend the Masters successfully. (nbcsports.com) (masters.com) The decisive stretch came at Amen Corner, Augusta National’s three-hole run at Nos. 11, 12 and 13 where Masters rounds often swing. Sports Illustrated reported McIlroy made par at 11, then hit a 9-iron to 7 feet at the par-3 12th and made birdie. (si.com) McIlroy said the shot at 12 drew on advice Tom Watson gave him during a 2009 practice round: wait until the wind feels right and hit it. The Athletic reported the ball drifted right more than McIlroy intended, turning the tee shot into what the story called a “happy accident.” (masters.com) (nytimes.com) The money was larger too. ESPN listed the Masters purse at $22.5 million, and the leaderboard showed McIlroy’s winner’s share at $4.5 million and Scheffler’s runner-up payout at $2.43 million. (espn.com) McIlroy said in the Green Jacket ceremony that he wanted to “prove last year wasn’t a fluke.” By Sunday evening at Augusta, he had turned one Masters win into two in a row. (masters.com)
