The 2026 Masters came to its conclusion on Sunday at Augusta National, producing a final round that will be talked about for decades. Heading into Round 4, Rory McIlroy and Cameron Young were locked together at 11-under par — the co-leaders after one of the most dramatic Saturday collapses in Masters history.
When the last putt dropped, it was McIlroy who claimed his second consecutive green jacket and sixth major title, firing a final-round 71 to finish at 12-under par. He won by one stroke over world number one Scottie Scheffler, who closed with a brilliant 68 but ran out of time.
Final Round Leaderboard
| Pos | Player | Country | R4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rory McIlroy | NIR | 71 (-1) | -12 |
| 2 | Scottie Scheffler | USA | 68 (-4) | -11 |
| T3 | Tyrrell Hatton | ENG | — | -10 |
| T3 | Justin Rose | ENG | — | -10 |
| T3 | Cameron Young | USA | — | -10 |
| T3 | Russell Henley | USA | — | -10 |
How the Final Round Unfolded
The drama started immediately on Sunday. Cameron Young, the overnight co-leader, birdied the par-5 second hole to move to 12-under and take sole possession of the lead. McIlroy, initially even through two holes, responded with a birdie on the par-4 third to level again at 12-under.
From there, the lead changed hands multiple times as Justin Rose made a stunning charge on the front nine, going four-under through his opening nine holes to briefly threaten both co-leaders. Scheffler, starting the day further back, was quietly making his move as well.
The key moments came on Amen Corner. McIlroy birdied the par-3 12th to reach 13-under, a number that looked like it might be enough. But he could not hold it at the last. After finding the right rough off the tee on the par-4 18th — requiring a near-impossible up-and-down to make par — McIlroy made bogey, dropping back to 12-under. For a terrifying few minutes, it meant Scheffler needed only a birdie on the final hole to force a playoff.
Scheffler could not make it. He parred 18, finishing at 11-under, one shot behind McIlroy. The green jacket was Northern Ireland’s.
Rose, who had led for much of the back nine, stumbled with bogeys on the 11th, 12th, and 17th holes, eventually finishing tied third at 10-under alongside Young, Hatton, and Henley.
The Champion
Rory McIlroy, 36, from Holywood, Northern Ireland, is now a six-time major champion. His back-to-back Masters victories make him only the fourth player in tournament history to win consecutive green jackets, joining Jack Nicklaus (1965–66), Nick Faldo (1989–90), and Tiger Woods (2001–02). He is the first player to defend the Masters title since Tiger Woods in 2002.
The win caps a remarkable run at Augusta National. Having broken his long major drought at this same tournament in 2025, McIlroy returned in 2026 and showed that victory was no fluke.
Key Storylines
McIlroy’s Saturday collapse and Sunday redemption. McIlroy had entered the weekend with a record six-shot lead before coughing it all up on Saturday, allowing Cameron Young to erase the deficit with a stunning 65. Sunday was his chance at redemption — and he took it, despite the drama on the 72nd hole.
Scheffler\’s stunning charge. World number one Scottie Scheffler, the 2022 and 2024 Masters champion, shot a final-round 68 to finish one shot short. He was the last man with a realistic chance to deny McIlroy, but a final-hole birdie eluded him.
Rose runs out of runway. Justin Rose looked like a genuine threat after a sizzling front nine before his challenge fell apart with three bogeys on the inward nine. The Englishman finishes without a Masters title for another year.
Cameron Young fades. Young, who had been sensational on Saturday, could not replicate that form on Sunday and finished tied third at 10-under — a fine result, but not the breakthrough major he was hunting.
Historic Achievement
This 2026 Masters will be remembered as the tournament where Rory McIlroy cemented his place among the all-time Augusta greats. Back-to-back green jackets. Six majors. The conversation about his legacy in the game has changed permanently.
The 90th Masters Tournament is over. The champion is exactly who many predicted — and he made the world hold its breath right to the final stroke.
