Rory McIlroy turned the primary back-to-back winner of The Masters since Tiger Woods after coming via a roller-coaster Sunday to say a one-shot victory at Augusta Nationwide.
McIlroy constructed a historic six-stroke midway lead however discovered himself two behind early in a dramatic remaining spherical, the place taking part in associate Cameron Younger after which Justin Rose – the person he beat to play-off victory 12 months in the past – each loved stints in prime spot.
The defending champion responded with back-to-back birdies from the seventh and added successive beneficial properties from the twelfth to briefly go three forward, just for Rose and Scottie Scheffler to shut and arrange an exhilarating end.
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Rory McIlroy performed Amen Nook in two-under par to tug away from the chasing pack and take a agency grip of The Masters throughout Sunday’s remaining spherical
McIlroy averted a repeat of final yr’s late stumble (squandering a four-shot lead earlier than finishing the profession Grand Slam) 12 months on as he took a two-shot result in the 72nd gap earlier than closing out a slim win with a two-putt bogey.
The world No 2 posted a one-under 71 to complete on 12 below, one forward of Scheffler, with Tyrrell Hatton’s sensible final-round 66 placing him in third spot alongside Rose, Younger and Russell Henley.
Victory sees McIlroy be part of Jack Nicklaus, Sir Nick Faldo and Woods as gamers to win consecutive editions of The Masters, whereas the 36-year-old is now simply the fifteenth man in historical past to say six or extra main titles.
How McIlroy made extra Masters historical past
McIlroy joined a small group of back-to-back Masters winners
McIlroy averted a repeat of final yr’s opening-hole double-bogey however fell behind when Younger birdied the par-five second, then responded with a chic up and down from the greenside bunker to benefit from the driveable third.
Younger all of a sudden jumped two forward when McIlroy pulled his tee shot on the par-three fourth and three-putted from inside 10 toes for double bogey, whereas each gamers bogeyed the par-three sixth to condense an already bunched leaderboard.
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McIlroy dropped two pictures on the par-three fourth at Augusta Nationwide through the remaining spherical of The Masters to fall two pictures again
Rose – taking part in two teams forward – began three again and fell additional behind with a bogey on the third, earlier than producing a run of three consecutive birdies from the sixth and leaping into the solo lead.
Younger did not rise up and down from the sand on the seventh and noticed Rose double his lead with a 15-foot birdie on the ninth, just for McIlroy and Younger to each reply by making the most of the par-five eighth.
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Rose made 5 birdies on his first 9 holes to bolster hopes on an elusive victory at The Masters
McIlroy burned a six-foot birdie likelihood on the ninth however discovered himself tied for the lead when Rose bogeyed the eleventh, earlier than taking a agency grip of the match with a formidable stretch round Amen Nook.
The world No 2 holed an eight-foot birdie on the par-three twelfth, the place Rose had misjudged a chip and made bogey, earlier than a brilliantly-judged two-putt from off the again of the thirteenth inexperienced moved him three forward with 5 holes to play.
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Justin Rose made two bogeys on the eleventh and twelfth, adopted by a par on the thirteenth, to lose floor on the lead
McIlroy needed to lay up from the timber on his option to a par on the fifteenth and scrambled pars over the following two holes, then overcame a late scare when his drive on the final gap headed in direction of the timber.
He discovered the entrance greenside bunker together with his second and pitched out to fifteen toes, giving him two putts for victory – with a final-hole bogey for the second successive yr not sufficient to stop McIlroy from profitable one other main title.
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Highlights of Rory McIlroy’s remaining spherical at The Masters, the place a one-under 71 secured a sixth main title
“I just can’t believe I waited 17 years to get one Green Jacket and I get two in a row,” McIlroy mentioned. “I think all of my perseverance at this golf tournament over the years has really started to pay off. It was a tough weekend. I did the bulk of my work on Thursday and Friday. But just so, so happy to hang in there and get the job done.”
Scheffler carded a bogey-free 68 to complete runner-up, having gone into the weekend 12 strokes behind McIlroy, whereas Rose – a three-time runner-up at The Masters – cancelled out a birdie on the fifteenth with a penultimate-hole bogey to narrowly miss out once more.
Younger posted a final-round 73 to fall brief in his bid to grow to be the third consecutive golfer to win The Gamers and The Masters. Shane Lowry stumbled to a final-round 80 to drop from two strokes again to tied-Thirtieth.
What’s subsequent?
The PGA Tour heads to South Carolina for the RBC Heritage at Hilton Head Island, the most recent Signature Occasion, the place Justin Thomas returns as defending champion. Early protection begins on Thursday from 12.30pm on Sky Sports activities Golf, forward of full protection from 7pm
The following males’s main is the PGA Championship from Might 14-17, held at Aronimink Golf Membership in Pennsylvania, additionally dwell on Sky Sports activities. Get Sky Sports activities or stream with no contract.
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