McIlroy Secures Second Straight Masters Victory

Rory McIlroy claimed his second consecutive Masters title on Sunday, overcoming a dramatic collapse of his record-breaking lead to edge out challengers and secure victory at Augusta National in Georgia. The 36-year-old from Northern Ireland finished at 12 under par, two strokes ahead of runner-up Justin Rose, marking only the fourth back-to-back win in tournament history.

McIlroy entered the weekend with a six-shot advantage after two rounds, the largest 36-hole lead ever recorded at the Masters. His sizzling second-round 65 had propelled him clear of the field, building on the momentum from his 2025 triumph that completed his career Grand Slam. However, Saturday's third round brought turmoil as McIlroy faltered, surrendering the lead with erratic play. Cameron Young stormed to the top with a 65, joining McIlroy at 11 under, while Scottie Scheffler, the world number one, fired his own 65 to lurk one shot back. Contenders including Sam Burns, Shane Lowry, Jason Day and Rose remained within three strokes, setting the stage for a tense final day.

Rose, the 45-year-old Englishman and 2011 U.S. Open champion, seized control early in the fourth round. Starting three shots off the pace...