Rory McIlroy wins second straight Masters, holds off Scottie Scheffler

Rory McIlroy kept his composure when Augusta National tried to pry the tournament away from him, recovering from an early double bogey and a tense finish to post a one-under 71 and win the 2026 Masters by one shot over Scottie Scheffler.

The victory at Augusta National Golf Club in Augusta, Georgia, gave McIlroy a 12-under 276 total and his second straight green jacket in the 90th Masters Tournament. Scheffler made a strong final-round push, but McIlroy answered every challenge well enough to stay in front, even after a bogey on the 18th hole tightened the margin to the end.

McIlroy became only the fourth man to win back-to-back Masters titles, joining Jack Nicklaus, Nick Faldo and Tiger Woods. He was also the first golfer to successfully defend the Masters since Woods in 2001-02, a marker that underscored how rare this kind of repeat title has been at Augusta National. The win came one year after McIlroy completed the career Grand Slam by beating Justin Rose in a playoff, sealed by a birdie on the first extra hole after both finished at 11-under 277.

That history gave this final round more weight than a standard Sunday chase. McIlroy started with the burden of defending a major title at a venue that punishes hesitation, and for stretches he looked as if the pressure might break the tournament open. Instead, he held his line, protected the lead when Scheffler closed hard, and delivered the round needed to keep the green jacket in his possession.

Augusta National announced a record 2026 purse of $22.5 million, with the winner’s share set at $4.5 million. McIlroy said afterward that after waiting 17 years for his first green jacket, he now had two in a row. CBS commentator Jim Nantz framed the finish as another example of McIlroy proving he can withstand Augusta’s pressure, and the final scorecard backed up that judgment: a champion who absorbed the blows, controlled the pace and closed the deal when the margin narrowed.