It took Rory McIlroy 17 attempts to win his elusive first green jacket at the US Masters last year. It’s taken just one to win his second.
The world No.2 became just the fourth player in history to win back to back Masters tournaments on Monday morning (AEST), joining the elite company of only Jack Nicklaus, Nick Faldo and Tiger Woods as consecutive winners.
But McIlroy’s historic win — just like last year — wasn’t without some final-round drama.
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Tied for the lead at -11 with Cameron Young at the start of the day, McIlroy took the patrons at Augusta National Golf Club on his now customary rollercoaster with three birdies, a bogey and a double bogey in the first eight holes of the day.
Englishman Justin Rose at one stage opened up a two-shot lead on the second nine, while world No.1 Scottie Scheffler was stalking his way up the leaderboard, but McIlroy steadied to take a two-shot lead into the 18th.
Needing only a bogey to win his sixth career major, McIlroy once again threatened to bottle it when he drove his first shot over the trees on the right of the fairway and into the pine straw alongside the 10th fairway.
But a recovery of sorts saw him find the greenside bunker and have enough green to work with to make a relatively easy chip and two-putt for bogey to win the Masters again.
“And here we go, his year again. Rory is a rare repeat winner at Augusta!” Jim Nantz said on commentary for CBS.
McIlroy joins Dustin Johnson, Jordan Speith and Trevor Immelmann as one of four men to lead or co-lead after every round of a Masters tournament.
“I can’t believe I waited 17 years to get one green jacket, and I get two in a row,” McIlroy said after his win.
“I think all of my perseverance at this golf tournament over the years has started to pay off.”
More to come …
