Rory McIlroy further etched his name into Masters lore.
The Northern Irishman became just the fourth golfer in history to win back-to-back green jackets, finishing at 12-under par at historic Augusta National Golf Club.
Tiger Woods was the last to accomplish the rare feat, when he was repeat winner in 2001 and 2002.
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With multiple contenders in the mix, the margin for error was slim Sunday at Augusta National. Two-time Masters champion Scottie Scheffler finished just one shot behind McIlroy at 11-under. Meanwhile, Justin Rose, last year’s Masters runner-up, finished in a tie for third.
For a brief moment, Rose held a two-shot lead in the final round at Augusta National, until a series of mistakes through Amen Corner and a couple of birdies by the defending champion over the same stretch dealt him another dose of disappointment.
“Just a chance that got away,” Rose, who McIlroy outlasted in a playoff last year, lamented afterward.
Despite a dismal round Saturday and a slow start Sunday, McIlroy bounced back in Sunday’s final round to fend off the competition.
McIlroy held a Masters-record six-shot lead after 36 holes, but an early stumble Sunday dropped him into a tie for fourth before he regained control and powered his way to consecutive titles.
Over the years, when the Masters opened the major championship season, McIlroy fended off questions about whether he could complete the elusive career Grand Slam. But last year’s sudden-death playoff victory over Justin Rose at Augusta National silenced those doubts.
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“I just can’t believe I waited 17 years to get one green jacket, and then I get two in a row,” McIlroy said before Masters chairman Fred Ridley put the green jacket on him.
McIlroy now joins a short list that includes Woods, Jack Nicklaus and Nick Faldo.
McIlroy teared up while speaking about his parents, Gerry and Rosie, who traveled to Georgia to witness his second Masters title.
Last year, they stayed home in Northern Ireland for their son’s first Masters victory. “I had to convince them to come because they thought the reason I won (last year) was because they weren’t here,” McIlroy joked.
He added, “You’re the most wonderful parents, and if I can be half the parent to (daughter) Poppy, I know I have done a good job.”
During his return to Washington from Florida on Sunday evening, President Donald Trump congratulated McIlroy in a post on Truth Social, writing, “Congratulations to Rory McIlroy on another Great Championship, The Masters!”
Trump added that McIlroy “performed tremendously under intense pressure, something which few people would be able to even think about doing.”
McIlroy’s first place finish earned him $4.5 million from the $22.5 million purse.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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