Rory McIlroy became the first back-to-back winner of The Masters since Tiger Woods after surviving a roller-coaster final round to claim a one-shot victory at Augusta National.
McIlroy carried a six-shot halfway lead into the weekend but saw the margin evaporate during a dramatic Sunday, when playing partner Cameron Young and then Justin Rose each held the lead at different stages. McIlroy fought back with birdies at seven and a run of gains starting at the 12th to briefly open a three-shot advantage, only for Rose and Scottie Scheffler to close in and set up a tense finish.
The world No. 2 avoided a repeat of last year’s opening-hole collapse and steadied early after Young birdied the second. McIlroy then produced a fine up-and-down at the driveable third but slipped after pulling his tee shot at the par-three fourth and three-putting for a double bogey, which left him two behind. Both he and Young bogeyed the sixth, tightening an already crowded leaderboard.
Rose, playing two groups ahead, began three back and surged with three consecutive birdies from the sixth to move into the solo lead. Young failed to save par at seven and Rose extended his advantage with a 15-foot birdie at nine, only for McIlroy and Young to share gains at the par-five eighth.
McIlroy missed a short birdie at the ninth but was level with Rose when the latter bogeyed the 11th. McIlroy then took control around Amen Corner, holing an eight-foot birdie at the 12th after Rose’s chip misjudgement led to bogey, and following with a measured two-putt from off the 13th green to go three clear with five holes to play.
He played conservatively down the stretch, laying up at 15 and scrambling pars at 16 and 17. A nervy tee shot on the 18th found a front greenside bunker; McIlroy pitched out to about 15 feet and settled for a two-putt bogey that nonetheless sealed the title. He posted a one-under 71 to finish on 12 under, one stroke ahead of Scheffler.
Scheffler shot a bogey-free 68 to finish runner-up after beginning the weekend 12 shots back. Tyrrell Hatton’s brilliant final-round 66 left him in a tie for third alongside Rose, Young and Russell Henley. Young closed with a 73, falling short in his bid to become the third straight player to win The Players and The Masters. Shane Lowry, who was two back entering the day, slipped to a final-round 80 and tied for 30th.
McIlroy’s victory places him alongside Jack Nicklaus, Sir Nick Faldo and Tiger Woods as players to win consecutive Masters, and makes the 36-year-old the 15th man in history to claim six or more major titles. Reflecting on the win, McIlroy said: “I just can’t believe I waited 17 years to get one Green Jacket and I get two in a row. I think all of my perseverance at this golf tournament over the years has really started to pay off. It was a tough weekend. I did the bulk of my work on Thursday and Friday. But just so, so happy to hang in there and get the job done.”
The PGA Tour next moves to Hilton Head Island for the RBC Heritage, a Signature Event, where Justin Thomas defends his title. The next major is the PGA Championship at Aronimink Golf Club in Pennsylvania from May 14-17.