Rory McIlroy successfully defends Masters golf title

AUGUSTA — Rory McIlroy etched his name deeper into Masters lore on Sunday, carding a closing 1-under-par 71 to secure back-to-back green jackets and become only the fourth player in tournament history to achieve the feat.

The 36-year-old Northern Irishman entered the final round locked in a share of the lead with Cameron Young after a third-round 73 trimmed his once-commanding six-shot advantage. McIlroy steadied on a pressure-packed Sunday at Augusta National, posting a 12-under total to repeat as champion.

By successfully defending the title he captured in 2025, McIlroy joins Jack Nicklaus, Nick Faldo and Tiger Woods as the only players to win consecutive Masters Tournaments, further burnishing a legacy that now includes multiple titles at golf’s most storied major.

The victory marks McIlroy’s second straight Masters triumph and cements his place among the elite few who have mastered Augusta’s demanding layout in consecutive springs.