Rory McIlroy made even bigger history with a successful title defense at the Masters, and needed another roller coaster ride to close out the victory Sunday at Augusta National.
McIlroy held the largest 36-hole lead in tournament history, but took the lead into the final day, recovering from two holes behind to score another dramatic success.
The world number two’s trailing partner, Cameron Young, and Justin Rose, who had a slim lead in the playoffs en route to last year’s Grand Slam, got back on track at various points in the final round, with McIlroy hitting back-to-back birdies from the seventh.
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Rory McIlroy receives his green jacket from Augusta National Golf Club President Fred Ridley at Butler Cabin.
McIlroy added a birdie near Amen Corner to move up a three-shot lead with five shots remaining, capping off an impressive win despite a bogey on the 72nd hole for the second straight year.
With the victory, McIlroy equaled Sir Nick Faldo’s record of six major titles and became only the fourth player to win back-to-back Masters titles, joining Jack Nicklaus, Faldo and Tiger Woods.
“I waited 17 years to get a green jacket and it’s hard to believe I got it twice in a row,” McIlroy said. “I feel like all my patience over the years at these golf tournaments is really starting to pay off. It was a tough weekend. I did most of my work on Thursday and Friday, but no matter what, I’m so glad I was able to hang in there and get the job done.”
McIlroy’s final-round 71 included five birdies, a bogey and a double bogey, putting many players in contention during a special major Sunday. Let’s take a step-by-step look at how McIlroy achieved another huge success.
Hole 1
Young opened with a two-putt par after finding a fairway bunker off the tee. McIlroy hit two good shots on the green, but missed a 10-footer for birdie, and was two strokes better than he was when he started the final round last year.
Burns, who was in the group earlier, made a birdie on the first hole and took the lead, creating a three-way tie.
Score: -11 Young, McIlroy, Burns (1)
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Justin Rose started the first round of the Masters with a birdie, an outstanding chip.
Hole 2
McIlroy needed a layup from a fairway bunker, but hit a wedge to within 10 feet for his third shot. Young’s pitch landed 11 feet over the bunker for birdie and gave him the solo lead when McIlroy failed to convert his effort.
Burns’ fast start was canceled out after he found a tree off the tee and made double bogey 7.
Scores: -12 Young, -11 McIlroy, -9 Burns (2)
Hole 3
Young hit an incredibly big ball off the tee, hitting a tree and falling back into the fairway for a two-putt par. McIlroy bounced 8 feet above the sand for his first birdie of the round.
Scores: -12 Young, -12 McIlroy.
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Take a look at all the times Cameron Young struggled with the greens at this year’s Masters.
Hole 4
McIlroy pulled his tee shot left of the green, hit a good chip over the bunker to 9 feet, and fell back to 10 under par with a three-putt double bogey. Young two-putted in front of the green and cleared twice.
Scores: -12 Young, -10 McIlroy.
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Rory McIlroy dropped two shots on the par-3 fourth hole after hitting an ugly double-bogey 5 from inside 10 feet.
Hole 5
Young missed the green in regulation but two-putted for par, while McIlroy also made par and was two behind.
Further along the course, Henry recorded back-to-back birdies on the 7th hole, and Rose made an incredible approach from the trees for a kick-in birdie, and both tied for second with McIlroy.
Scores: -12 Young, -10 McIlroy, -10 Henry (8), -10 Rose (7).
Hole 6
Young made a three-putt bogey from 70 feet, leaving his first putt six feet short, and fell to 11 under par, just one put ahead of Henry and Rose. McIlroy chose to putt long, chose to putt on the green, and then missed a 12-foot putt to save par.
Scores: -11 Young, -10 Henry (9), -10 Rose (7), -9 McIlroy.
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Rory McIlroy fought back from three drop shots to stay tied on his first nine shots in the final round of the Masters and compete for his second green jacket.
Hole 7
Young failed to get up and down from 10 feet after playing from a front bunker in the middle of the fairway, resulting in his second straight bogey and loss of the lead.
McIlroy closed the gap on his playing partner when he hit a solid iron shot for an 8-foot birdie, while Rose, two groups ahead, took the lead with a birdie on the par-5 eighth.
Scores: -11 Rose (8), -10 McIlroy, -10 Young.
Hole 8
McIlroy reached the par-5 green in two strokes, walked after the ball, and made a two-putt birdie from 25 feet to finish at 11 under par. Young also took the opportunity to sit alongside McIlroy, and Rose rolled in a 15-foot birdie in the ninth to reach the turn in 32 and move one step ahead.
Scores: -12 Rose (9), -11 Young, -11 McIlroy.
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Justin Rose recorded five birdies in the first nine holes of the fourth round of the Masters.
Hole 9
Young had to pitch out of the pine trees after a wayward drive and saw his ball roll into a divot. The American eventually had to cap the damage with a clever two-putt.
He fell to a tie for third place with Hatton, who had four consecutive birdies starting from the 13th hole. This is because McIlroy missed three consecutive 6-foot birdie opportunities and failed to utilize his brilliant approach.
Scores: -12 Rose (10), -11 McIlroy, 10 Young, -10 Hatton (17).
hall 10
McIlroy’s regulation two-putt par to start the second nine was enough to regain a share of the lead as Rose failed to get up and down short of the par-4 11th green. Henry also recorded par and remained in first place in the group.
Scores: -11 Rose (11), -11 McIlroy, -10 Young, -10 Henry (13), -10 Hatton (F).
hall 11
Rose misjudged a ball to the back of the 12th green and ended up having to come down for two to save a bogey, and was able to regain the solo lead when McIlroy holed an 8-footer for par on the 11th. Young also recorded par with 2 putts, reaching 10 under par.
Scores: -11 McIlroy, -10 Young, -10 Henry (14), -10 Hatton (F).
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Justin Rose made two bogeys on the 11th and 12th and was eliminated with a par on the 13th.
hall 12
McIlroy hit a brilliant tee shot to within 8 feet on the iconic par 3 hole and made the putt for birdie. His lead was doubled when Young failed to match his effort from a few feet further out.
Scores: -12 McIlroy, -10 Young, -10 Rose (13), -10 Henry (15), -10 Hatton (F).
Rory McIlroy and Cameron Young played together in Sunday’s final group.
hall 13
A second straight birdie extended McIlroy’s advantage with a well-judged downhill two-putt from the green. He converted from 10 feet to 13 under while Young blew a birdie chance from the same distance.
Scores: -13 McIlroy, -10 Young, -10 Rose (14), -10 Henry (16), -10 Hatton (F).
hall 14
McIlroy had a stress-free par and Young stayed level, but his lead was reduced when Scheffler birdied the par-3 15th and Rose took the advantage on the par-5 15th.
Scores: -13 McIlroy, -11 Scheffler (16), -11 Rose (15), -10 Young.
hall 15
McIlroy had to lie down blocked by a tree, and his wedge shot barely cleared the water and allowed a two-putt for par. Young was unable to get up and down the back of the green and mentioned three behind him.
Scores: -13 McIlroy, -11 Scheffler (17), -11 Rose (16), -10 Young.
Hole 16
McIlroy’s long tee shot left a tricky up and down path behind the green, and McIlroy judged the break perfectly and left a close par. Young hit his tee shot to within 15 feet but saw his birdie putt horseshoe out.
In the front group, Rose saw his faint hopes end when he missed a close-range putt to save par.
Scores: -13 McIlroy, -11 Scheffler (F), -10 Rose (17), 10 Young.
Hole 17
McIlroy’s approach from the middle of the fairway on the 17th hole bounced off the green, but he safely two-putted from outside the green to maintain a two-shot buffer through the 72nd hole.
Scores: -13 McIlroy, -11 Scheffler (F), 10 Young.
Hole 18
Drama on the final hole looked promising when McIlroy found a tree off the tee, forcing him to move his client to approach the front of the green.
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Rory McIlroy defended his Masters after a bogey on the 72nd hole sealed his victory.
The ball went into the greenside bunker and the smart chip passed 15 feet, putting McIlroy within 3 inches behind for the outright victory.
Final score: -12 McIlroy, -11 Scheffler, -10 Young, Henley, Rose, Hatton.
What did McIlroy say?
McIlroy said of how his win was compared to last year: “It felt pretty similar. I had an early double on the first hole last year, and this year I had a double on the fourth hole. After that, I played flawless golf.”
Rory McIlroy was presented with a Green Jacket by Augusta National Chairman Fred Ridley.
“I knew I had a two-shot lead and made four birdies to the last tee and didn’t make any bogeys. It’s nice to have a two-shot cushion instead of the two-shot cushion we had last year.
“After I bogeyed the sixth, I looked at the board and I think I was back at 9 under at that point. I said, ‘Okay, if I can get to 14 under, I think I have a really good chance of winning this tournament.’ I didn’t get there, but 13 under off the 18th tee was good enough.”
What’s next?
The next men’s major is the PGA Championship, which will be held at Aronimink Golf Club in Pennsylvania from May 14 to 17 and will also be broadcast live on Sky Sports. Access or stream Sky Sports with no contract.
