For the second year in a row, Rory McIlroy walked off the 18th green victorious at Augusta National. McIlroy’s 12-under 276 finish held off world No. 1 Scottie Scheffler by a single stroke to win the 90th Masters Tournament. Rory made history being only the fourth player in history to go back-to-back at Augusta. He joins Jack Nicklaus, Nick Faldo, and Tiger Woods. It is McIlroy’s sixth career major, which ties him for 12th all-time.
The tournament looked as if it were over before the weekend even began. Rory finished Friday with a 66 to reach 11-under and take a commanding six-shot lead heading into the weekend. This lead was the largest 36-hole lead in Masters history.
A shaky Saturday from Rory opened the door for other competitors to make moves. Cameron Young grabbed a share of the lead after a Saturday 65. Justin Rose, runner-up to Rory last year, briefly climbed to the top of the board on the front nine Sunday. At one point in time, four players held the lead tied with Rory. Following a three-putt double-bogey on the par-3 fourth and a bogey on the sixth, Rory fell two shots back. Then came “Amen Corner”.
Rory birdied the par-3 12th and followed up that incredible showing with another birdie on the following par-5 13th. Suddenly Rory had grabbed the lead at 13-under after a Rose bogey on hole number twelve. Scheffler failed to catch up regardless of his bogey-free weekend and incredible shot making out of tough areas.
The final hole offered Rory some challenge on the last day. He pushed his tee shot so far right that it was closer to the 10th hole than the 18th. He chipped out of the pine straw into the bunker and two-putted his bunker shot for bogey. The bogey allowed him to finish at 12-under. It was good enough to win by one. He hugged his caddie Harry Diamond, embraced his wife and daughter, and made his way to receive the coveted green jacket.
“I can’t believe I waited 17 years for my first green jacket and I got two in a row,” McIlroy told CBS in Butler Cabin.
Rose, Young, Burns, Hatton, and Henley finished tied for third at 10-under. Rory took home $4.5 million from the $22.5 million purse. Rory played his heart out and ended up making history for the second year in a row at Augusta National.
