Scottie Scheffler one shot behind

Rory McIlroy from Northern Ireland lead the 2026 Masters at Augusta National in America (9-12 April) from day one to seize the 90th edition of the first Major of the season by an incredible one shot from American World Number One player Scottie Scheffler.  McIlroy’s superb victory means that he is only the fourth player ever to have back-to-back wins in the Masters following in the formidable footsteps of Jack Nicklaus, Nick Faldo and Tiger Woods.

 

It was another thrilling day on Sunday.  McIlroy teed-off with 28-year old American Cameron Young on Sunday as the last pairing both with a share of the lead on 11-under par.  Young’s 7-under par 65 the day before had given him a delightful boost to tie with McIlroy at Augusta National.  Yes, incredibly McIlroy is rated as the number two player in the world and Cameron Young as number three.

 

American Sam Burns got off to a flying start on another sunny day with a birdie at the first meaning that he was now co-leader with McIlroy and Young.  However, on the next hole he suffered a double-bogey 7 to slip back to 9-under.  There were now 14 players within six shots of the leaders.

 

Meanwhile Viktor Hovland (Norway) had arrived safely in the clubhouse with an excellent round of 5-under par 67.

 

Young seizes the lead

 

Cameron Young then birdied the second to seize the outright lead on 12-under as McIlroy’s birdie putt slipped past the hole.  The player from Northern Ireland then birdied the third to share the lead with Young.  Alas, he then had a double-bogey on the par-3 4th to slip back to 10-under.

 

Another American Russell Henley made another birdie at the 8th to get to 10-under and tie with McIlroy.  England’s Justin Rose, who lost to Rory McIlroy in a play-off in the Masters last year, then birdied the seventh to get to 10-under too.  The final day of the Masters was really hotting up.

 

Alas, McIlroy then made bogey at the sixth to slide further down the leaderboard to a share of fourth place with Scottie Scheffler on 9-under.

 

Tussle for the top

 

Well the battle for number one spot goes to Cameron Young on 12-under who is followed two shots behind by Justin Rose and Russell Henley on 10-under.  A few holes later Rose had snatched the co-lead with Young after making birdies at the 7th and 8th holes.

 

Young then dropped a shot at the 8th which left 45-year old Englishman Rose on his own as leader on 11-under.  McIlroy birdied the 7th to tie with Young and Henley on 10-under.

 

Justin Rose, the 2013 US Open winner and gold medallist at the 2016 Olympics in Brazil, made three spectacular birdies on the 7th, 8th and 9th to increase his lead.

 

 

Another Englishman Tyrrell Hatton had a super day on Sunday.  He needed to make a birdie at the 18th to score a 65.  Alas, he made par but his 66 was still good enough for a share of third place.

 

American Collin Morikawa played a superb back nine with five birdies in a row from the 12th to the 16th to get into a share of sixth spot with Scottie Scheffler.

 

Another play-off with McIlroy and Rose?

 

Rose then bogeyed the 11th which left him in a tie for first with McIlroy on 11-under par.  Were we going to see another play-off in the Masters?  Was this going to be a glory year for Justin Rose?  Or was Rory McIlroy going to scoop an awesome back-to-back victory?

 

Justin Rose then fluffed his chip on the 12th and needed to hole a long putt to save par.  He walked off with a bogey and a score of 10-under.  Rose then launched two super shots onto the par-5 13th giving himself chance for an eagle however he three-putted for par.  He is now two shots off McIlroy’s 12-under lead and tied for second with Young, Hatton and Henley.

 

 

 

Scottie Scheffler holed a long birdie putt at the 15th to share second place.  McIlroy then birdied the 13th to get three shots ahead of the field.  Victory for the 36-year old from Northern Ireland was looking pretty sure at this point, however, the game of golf is never predictable.  Stay focussed, Rory!

 

Scheffler then also birdied the 16th to get to 11-under.  And Rose birdied the 15th to tie with the American.  Two holes later Rose bogeyed the 17th to fall back to a 2-under par 70 which saw him eventually tie for third spot on 10-under par with Tyrrell Hatton, Russell Henley and Cameron Young.

 

Scheffler soars ahead

 

Scottie Scheffler made steady par at the last two holes to card an impressive 11-under par for the 2026 Masters.  Would this score be low enough to win the Masters?  Or will Rory McIlroy hold his nerve for a tremendous back-to-back victory?

 

McIlroy made par at the 16th and 17th holes leaving himself with a two-stroke advantage over Scheffler as he drove down the final hole.  The moment was tense as McIlroy’s ball flew-off down the right-hand side into the trees.  He took his time to find the ball and calculate his second shot.  He was not going to take any chances so he played his shot safely near the green without any risk.

 

 

All he needed to do once he was on the 18th was to judge his putts carefully as two putts was enough for victory.  He nudged the ball direction hole and it stayed safely above ground within a few centimetres.  One short tap-in putt and victory was for Northern Ireland’s Rory McIlroy.  Yes, what a wonderful 2026 Masters Championship for McIlroy!  He lead the field from day one to his sixth Major victory on Sunday.  We are absolutely delighted for you, Rory!

 

 

Wendy Hoad

Editor

 

 

MAIN PHOTOGRAPH:  An historic back-to-back victory for Northern Ireland’s Rory McIlroy in the 2026 Masters.  BELOW (l-r): Justin Rose and Scottie Scheffler.  Justin Rose and Rory McIlroy.  Rory McIlroy on his way to winning the 2026 US Masters.