Rory McIlroy Wins 2026 Masters, Joins Historic Club with 2nd Straight Green Jacket

Rory McIlroy has become the first player since Tiger Woods in 2002 and fourth overall to win back-to-back Masters, finishing the tournament at 12-under overall on Sunday at Augusta National Golf Club.

The 36-year-old joins an exclusive back-to-back champions club that includes Jack Nicklaus (1965, 1966), Nick Faldo (1989, 1990) and Woods (2001, 2002).

McIlroy endured a roller-coaster four-day stretch to say the least, but he ended up victorious after a fantastic finish.

He shot a 12-under through two rounds and had a six-shot lead going into Saturday, marking the biggest 36-hole edge in the history of the tournament, which has been held 90 times.

However, a tough Saturday (one-over 73) combined with Cameron Young's seven-under 65 led to the two entering Sunday tied for first at 11-under.

Young led the tournament at 11-under after six holes on Sunday, with McIlroy two shots back largely due to shooting three-over on the front nine par-three holes (double bogey on No. 4 and bogey on No. 6). At that point, it looked as if McIlroy's quest to put the green jacket back on was quickly slipping away.

However, McIlroy showed incredible resolve and resilience. He got birdies on the seventh and eighth to move back to 11-under and then excelled on Amen Corner with birdies on the 12th and 13th to get to 13-under.

McIlroy had pars from the 14th through 17th and needed a bogey or better to win and finish ahead of clubhouse leader Scottie Scheffler at 11-under.

However, McIlroy made it interesting on the 18th when his tee shot went well right.

He hit a great second shot just to get to a greenside bunker, though, and then got it to the green from 12 feet out on his third shot. A stress-free two-putt bogey from there made McIlroy the champion.

Elsewhere, McIlroy's top competition in Young and Justin Rose slowed down on the back half of Sunday. Young, the defending Players champion, shot three-over on the final 13 holes and ended up at 10-under in a four-way tie for third with Rose, Tyrrell Hatton and Russell Henley.

Meanwhile, Rose, who was at 12-under after the 10th hole thanks in part to birdies from No. 7-9, made bogeys on No. 11 and No. 12 to fall back to 10-under. He had a great opportunity to score on the par-five 13th thanks to a 30-foot eagle chance, but a three-putt led to a par.

Rose did birdie on the par-five 15th but gave that stroke back two holes later and finished at 10-under.

Scheffler, who ended Friday 12 strokes back, ended up finishing solo second at 11-under. The two-time Masters champion did something no player had done in 84 years.

Scheffler shot a four-under 68 on Sunday, cementing a great tournament.

In the end, though, McIlroy earned his second Masters and sixth major win, tying Lee Trevino, Nick Faldo and Phil Mickelson for the 12th-most all time.

The Masters, of course, proved elusive for McIlroy to complete the career Grand Slam after 16 tries. However, he got it done last year, beating Rose in a playoff on a dramatic Sunday and ending an 11-year run without a major win.

McIlroy then etched his name among three of the game's all-time legends as a back-to-back Masters champion this year after another tense Sunday.