Rory McIlroy Repeats at Masters, First Back-to-Back Champion Since Tiger Woods

Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland won the Masters Tournament, with a total purse of $22.5 million, for a second straight year. [Photo=Yonhap/Reuters]

Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland successfully defended his title at the Masters Tournament, becoming the first back-to-back winner in 24 years since Tiger Woods of the United States.

McIlroy shot a 1-under 71 in the final round Sunday (Korean time) at Augusta National Golf Club in Georgia, with five birdies, two bogeys and one double bogey on the par-72 course.

He finished at 12-under 276, edging Scottie Scheffler of the United States (11-under 277) by one stroke to claim the green jacket. The winner’s prize was $4.5 million (about 6.6 billion won).

The victory made McIlroy the fourth player to defend a Masters title, joining Jack Nicklaus (1965-1966), Nick Faldo (1989-1990) and Woods (2001-2002).

McIlroy also led from the opening round through the finish for a wire-to-wire win. It was the first wire-to-wire Masters champion since Dustin Johnson in 2020. The win was McIlroy’s first of the season and the 30th of his PGA Tour career.

The result followed recent health concerns. After tying for second at the Genesis Invitational in February, McIlroy withdrew from the Arnold Palmer Invitational because of back pain. He then tied for 46th at The Players Championship.

At Augusta National, he showed a different level of form, combining accurate shots and putting to stay atop the leaderboard from the first day and hold on through the final round for a second straight Masters title.

* This article has been translated by AI.

Kang Sang Heon