Rory McIlroy defends Masters title on epic Sunday at Augusta

The emotion came flooding out of Rory McIlroy once again as he became only the fourth golfer in history to win back-to-back Masters titles. 

On an absorbing final day at Augusta National, McIlroy withstood challenges from world number one Scottie Scheffler, Cameron Young and last year's runner-up Justin Rose. 

The Northern Irishman needed a sudden death play-off to clinch his first green jacket and seal the career grand slam 12 months ago but managed to seal the deal this time in regulation. 

He threatened another late implosion by hitting a disastrous tee shot down the 18th, but a closing bogey was enough for McIlroy to seal a one-shot victory over Scheffler, who went round in 68 but simply ran out of holes. 

Scheffler's compatriot, Russell Henley, finished in a share of third place alongside Rose and Tyrrell Hatton. 

McIlroy, 36, finished on a 72-hole total of 12-under par. 

"I just can't believe I waited 17 years to get one green jacket and you know, I get two in a row," he told Jim Nantz and Augusta National chairman Fred Ridley in the Butler Cabin. 

"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."

Victory means McIlroy is the first player since Tiger Woods in 2002 to successfully defend the Masters and fourth overall alongside Sir Nick Faldo and Jack Nicklaus. 

How Rory McIlroy won his second green jacket

McIlroy began the final round tied for the lead with America's Cameron Young. 

But it was his Ryder Cup teammate Justin Rose who started brightest, the Englishman chipping in at the first and making the turn in 32 strokes. 

By the time Rose reached the 11th tee box, he had the lead. 

But Amen Corner claimed Rose and, although he recovered late on, the damage had already been done. 

McIlroy began last year's dramatic final round with a double bogey right out the gate and managed to avoid a repeat of last year's early stumble. 

Until he reached the fourth hole. 

McIlroy missed the green left and, despite chipping close, somehow three-putted for a five. 

Another dropped shot followed at the sixth but he steadied the ship with back-to-back birdies at the seventh and eighth. 

Three more pars followed before he pulled clear at the iconic and treacherous par-three 12th. 

McIlroy was aggressive with his tee shot and converted from seven feet. 

He committed to his drive down the 13th and, despite missing the green long, managed to two-putt from distance to fully seize control. 

McIlroy arrived at the 18th with a two-shot lead and hit a dreadful tee shot right of the trees.

He had a gap and advanced his ball to the front bunker. After splashing out, McIlroy safely two-putted to claim his second Masters title. 

Scheffler misses out

The world number one arrived at Augusta National with questions marks over his form. 

He withdrew from last week's PGA Tour event as wife Meredith gave birth to their second child. 

Despite his preparations being affected by the arrival of son Remy, Scheffler showed with his weekend performance just why he has been the dominant force in the men's game since his breakout 2022 season. 

At the halfway stage, he was 12 shots back of McIlroy. 

But he surged up the leaderboard on moving day with a stunning 65 and came up one shot shy on Sunday after a 68 that could've been better.

"I've competed against him for a long time, and you don't win the amount of tournaments that he's won out here without being pretty resilient," Scheffler said of McIlroy. 

"I mean, having a six-shot lead at Augusta is never easy, and losing that is obviously something difficult. 

"But at the end of the day when you tee it up here on Sunday, you know, he's tied for the lead to start the day and had a solid round and did what he needed to do in order to get it done.

"I knew going into today I was going to have to do something special if I wanted to catch him on Cam and I was close but just a few shots here or there."

He added: "Overall I'm not going to hold too many regrets, but yeah, definitely a bit disappointed now. 

"But like I said, I started the weekend 12 shots back and ended up only one shot back. 

"If I am going to blame anything, I should probably blame the first two rounds before I start looking at stuff from the last couple."

Another Masters heartbreak for Rose

Rose's late career resurgence shows no signs of slowing down. 

Rose, 45, was aiming to become the oldest first-time Masters champion and looked like a man possessed as he took the lead at the 11th. 

But then there was a role reversal, with Rose making mistakes under pressure.

Rose lamented the mistakes he made around Amen Corner and vowed to keep trying. 

On the eve of the final round, Rose revealed he still harboured aspirations to join McIlroy in the grand slam club. 

At aged 46, time is running out to achieve that audacious goal. 

But who would be against Rose playing his way into contention at this year's Open at Royal Birkdale>