Rory McIlroy held off a dramatic final-day charge to win his second straight Masters title and join an elite group of Augusta greats.
The Northern Irishman closed with a 1-under 71 to finish at 12-under 276, sealing a one-shot victory over Scottie Scheffler and becoming only the fourth player to defend the Masters title.
A year after completing the career Grand Slam, McIlroy now joins Tiger Woods, Jack Nicklaus and Nick Faldo as back-to-back champions at Augusta.
The win, however, was far from straightforward.
Starting the weekend with a six-shot lead, McIlroy saw his advantage disappear and even trailed during a chaotic final round. Three different players held two-shot leads at various stages before the momentum swung again.
McIlroy’s decisive move came around Amen Corner. A bold tee shot over Rae’s Creek at the par-3 12th set up a birdie from seven feet, and a booming 350-yard drive at the par-5 13th led to another, giving him a three-shot cushion.
Even then, the drama wasn’t over. A wayward drive on the 18th drifted towards the 10th fairway, but he recovered to make bogey and close out the win.
“I just can’t believe I waited 17 years to get one green jacket, and I get two in a row,” McIlroy said. “It was a tough weekend… but I’m so happy to hang in there and get the job done.”
His week told a tale of two halves — 67-65 to build the lead, followed by 73-71 to grind it out under pressure.
Scheffler pushed him all the way. Starting the weekend 12 shots back, the World No. 1 produced a remarkable charge with rounds of 65-68, finishing at 11-under — including a bogey-free weekend, a rare feat at Augusta.
Justin Rose’s challenge faded around Amen Corner after holding a brief lead, while Cameron Young also slipped after early contention despite closing with nine straight pars.
Among Indian-origin players, Aaron Rai finished T-48 at 5-over after a final-round 70. Akshay Bhatia missed the cut, while Sahith Theegala did not feature in the field.
In the end, it was McIlroy’s resilience — not dominance — that defined the week, as he turned a collapsing lead into a place in Masters history.
Photo – The Masters
Story – V Krishnaswamy
