McIlroy defends Masters title
Rory McIlroy edges Scottie Scheffler to secure historic win
Defending champion Rory McIlroy retained the Masters title, edging Scottie Scheffler by one shot to claim his sixth major and become the first back‑to‑back winner at Augusta National since Tiger Woods. McIlroy closed with a one‑under 71 to finish at 12 under, celebrating emotionally with his caddie after securing the victory.
World number one Scheffler carded a 68 to take solo second, mounting a late charge that fell short when a potential birdie chance at the 17th narrowly missed. McIlroy overcame an early wobble — including a double bogey at the par‑three fourth and subsequent bogey at another par‑three — by making key birdies and steady play down the stretch.
Tournaments highlights included McIlroy’s clutch tee shot on the par‑three 12th that set up birdie, an 11‑foot birdie that pushed him three clear after Scheffler’s birdie at 15, and a fortunate escape at the par‑five 15th that kept him out of the water. He executed a pressure up‑and‑down from behind the 16th green before a closing bogey on 18 following an errant tee shot.
A group of players shared third place: Tyrrell Hatton (66), Russell Henley (68), Justin Rose (70) and Cameron Young (73). Rose, runner‑up in 2025, briefly held the lead through the front nine but faltered through Amen Corner, surrendering momentum as McIlroy surged.
McIlroy’s defense of his title saw him recover from the late‑round collapse that had nearly cost him last year; this time his composure and timely shots preserved a narrow margin. The win cements his status among the elite of the game and marks a rare successful title defense at Augusta.
