The ninetieth Masters noticed one other thrilling match gained by Rory McIlroy, turning into the fourth participant in historical past to win consecutive inexperienced jackets.
With the primary and largest main match of the 12 months over, the stage is ready for the remainder of the golf calendar to take middle stage. Listed here are the highest storylines we’re watching:
The place does Rory McIlroy go from right here for the remainder of the 12 months?
Mark Schlabach: The query that arose from McIlroy’s 2025 Masters win was whether or not he would proceed successful, not in a position to carry the load of a virtually decade-long drought and not using a main and having by no means gained the inexperienced jacket for a profession Grand Slam.
Rory will admit that he loved his first Masters win a little bit greater than he anticipated. It was arduous responsible him. He wasn’t actually a robust contender for the ultimate three majors of 2025, aiming for forty seventh on the PGA Championship, nineteenth on the U.S. Open and seventh on the British Open. He had some nice finishes in marquee occasions, however Scottie Scheffler and others dominated the summer time.
McIlroy did not play horrible golf for the remainder of the 2025 season, however he appeared to have taken off the gasoline a bit.
Will this 12 months be completely different? His two consecutive wins on the Masters proved he nonetheless has what it takes to rack up extra main championships. Jack Nicklaus has gained 4 of his 18 main championships since turning 36 years outdated. Can Rory attain 10 wins with 4 extra wins? He turns into the fourth man to perform that, becoming a member of Nicklaus, Tiger Woods (15 years outdated) and Walter Hagen (11 years outdated).
Paul Ughetti: I am actually fascinated by McIlroy’s evolving method to making ready for the largest occasion of the 12 months. He detailed how he ready for this 12 months’s Masters by enjoying the course a number of occasions and spending time on the grounds. That is the one match the place he can do this, which is why he believes (and stated final week) that that is the key the place he may be most profitable as he enters a brand new stage in his profession.
So the place does that depart the remaining? McIlroy appears to be doing properly not simply within the majors, however in occasions which are flashpoints that imply a little bit extra to him, just like the Ryder Cup and extra importantly wins at particular venues. There’s nothing left on this 12 months’s calendar that may match a second inexperienced jacket, however he has clear confidence that he can compete wherever he performs, even when he is enjoying B or C video games. The one variable is how a lot he chooses to care or put together.
Effectively, the runway is now fairly clear. McIlroy is enjoying an emotional sport in addition to a mathematical one (see subsequent 12 months’s Ryder Cup and Open on the Previous Course in Eire) – what number of extra can he add to his PGA Tour win whole? Can he attain double-digit majors? The latter now seems to be like a sensible risk and would have a very optimistic affect on the three remaining majors this 12 months and the majors scheduled after that.
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Rory McIlroy to win second consecutive Masters
Rory McIlroy’s bogey clinched his seventh main title and second Masters, sparking an emotional celebration.
What was your largest takeaway from this 12 months’s Masters (aside from Rory)?
Schlabach: If there’s a golf god, Justin Rose might be carrying the inexperienced jacket in a couple of years. At 45 years outdated, Nicklaus was attempting to turn out to be the second-oldest Masters champion, having misplaced his sixth title in 1986 on the age of 46, however rejoined the favorites in Sunday’s second ninth.
Rose made three straight birdies to maneuver up two on the flip, however then fumbled at Amen Nook. The tee shot on the par-3 twelfth wasn’t unhealthy, however then Rose sank his chip shot for bogey. On the thirteenth gap, he made a superb comeback with a daring method shot, however his three-putt made par and nearly destroyed his probabilities.
Rose has now completed runner-up on the Masters thrice, together with a playoff loss to McIlroy in 2025.
Object: To me, this match reveals precisely how far more that means and weight this match carries to the gamers than some other occasion every year, and the way this golf course has produced solely top-notch winners.
Prior to now 5 years, the winners have been Jon Rahm, Scottie Scheffler (twice) and McIlroy (twice). It would not get any higher than this. It is clear that Augusta has found out the best method to supply not solely a leaderboard filled with the very best athletes on this planet (if the climate cooperates), however one which requires a novel mixture of execution and psychological fortitude not seen at some other occasion.
No participant has exemplified that greater than McIlroy over the previous two years. In a match that felt like a conflict of attrition, McIlroy (barely) survived whereas different gamers pale or just did not attempt arduous sufficient. At no different stage in golf is the stakes for a Masters win and a inexperienced jacket so vividly felt, and no stage through which they’re so visibly positioned in a stress cooker.
Who’s the largest Masters winner?
Schlabach: Aside from Rory, it is Colin Morikawa. Regardless of enjoying by means of again ache, the two-time main champion completed tied for seventh at 9 beneath par. On Sunday, he had his fifth consecutive birdie on the second ninth and completed with a 4-under 68 for the second straight 12 months.
There have been a number of occasions throughout the match the place Morikawa needed to bend ahead and have bother eradicating the ball from the cup. He hadn’t performed in practically a month since tweaking his hip on the primary gap of the Gamers Championship.
“I imply, consider me, that is going to be among the finest tournaments perpetually,” Morikawa stated. “I keep in mind this for quite a few causes, however greater than that, it’s how robust your thoughts is that you would be able to exit and persuade your self that all the things goes to be okay.”
Object: Actually, I am unable to assist however consider Scottie Scheffler heading into the weekend trailing by 12 strokes and ending only one stroke in need of making the playoffs with McIlroy.
Schaeffler’s ground is without doubt one of the highest we have ever seen on this sport. He was a C or B sport at finest and nearly earned his third inexperienced jacket. Whereas McIlroy continues so as to add to his listing of accomplishments with a brand new inexperienced jacket, Scheffler resides on the peak of his profession, and this week served as a reminder that there is no such thing as a restrict to what number of Masters he can and can win over the course of his profession.
It feels reductive to say he was the winner contemplating he fell one stroke brief, however as we stay up for the remainder of the 12 months and the subsequent 5, 10, 15 Masters, it was an necessary reminder that though he might battle at occasions on the PGA Tour, the No. 1 participant on this planet continues to be all that he’s.
What was your largest disappointment on the Masters?
Schlabach: Two LIV Golf League stars had been excited concerning the Masters, however Bryson DeChambeau missed the minimize and Jon Rahm tied for thirty eighth at 1-over.
DeChambeau is on a successful streak at LIV Golf and regarded able to compete for the inexperienced jacket after going through McIlroy within the ultimate group within the ultimate spherical final 12 months. Nonetheless, DeChambeau struggled to flee from the bunker in each the primary and second rounds. He hit a triple-bogey 7 on the 18th gap within the second spherical, leading to a complete of 6-over 150 for 36 holes, two spots worse than the minimize line.
Rahm might be an even bigger disappointment to me. As a result of it is a continuation of current subpar play within the majors. Rahm, who gained the Masters and tied for second on the 2023 British Open, has solely competed in a single main since transferring to LIV Golf.
He entered final 12 months’s PGA Championship at Quail Hole Membership in Charlotte, North Carolina as the favourite to win. Rahm entered the again 9 tied for the lead, however exploded on the ultimate three holes and was tied for eighth place at 4 beneath, seven strokes behind Scheffler.
Has he performed sufficient of the troublesome golf programs within the LIV Golf League? Is the competitors robust sufficient to arrange him for the majors?
Rahm hinted that he plans to alter the way in which he prepares for subsequent 12 months.
“There are undoubtedly going to be modifications going ahead when it comes to preparation and what we have to do,” Rahm stated. “However I do not suppose I ever took a grasp’s (course) at this firm, so it is arduous to say how a lot I realized.”
Object: LIV’s efficiency over the headliners of Rahm and DeChambeau is the plain name right here, however I would additionally wish to level out that Patrick Reed’s efficiency over the weekend was fairly underwhelming.
Reed, who has been one of many hottest prospects on this planet this 12 months with a number of wins on the DP World Tour, entered Saturday with a severe shot at successful his second inexperienced jacket.
However as an alternative of competing with McIlroy for a spot within the theoretical blockbuster ultimate group, he slumped, hitting a 72 on Saturday and a 73 on Sunday, ending exterior the highest 10. Now, it is unclear the place he goes from right here, however may there be extra DP World Tour occasions scheduled earlier than different main championships? Or will he wait till the best time and play on the PGA Tour within the fall?
Who’re the favorites to win the remaining three main tournaments?
Schlabach: Scheffler is the betting favourite in every of the final three majors, and there is a likelihood he’ll win no less than certainly one of them.
Through the first spherical of the 2018 BMW Championship, McIlroy shot a course record-tying 62 at Aronimink Golf Membership exterior Philadelphia, the positioning of subsequent month’s PGA Championship. He had 10 birdies within the spherical, together with seven in a row on the again 9.
Keegan Bradley defeated Justin Rose in a playoff to win the match. McIlroy completed fifth at 18 beneath par, two strokes behind Bradley and Rose.
McIlroy missed the minimize on the final U.S. Open in 2018 at Sinek Hills Golf Membership on Lengthy Island. He shot a 10-over 80 within the first spherical, matching his career-worst spherical for par in a significant on the time. He missed 13 of 18 greens.
McIlroy wasn’t the one golfer to battle at Shinnecock that week. Phil Mickelson hit a transferring ball in frustration on the thirteenth inexperienced at Sinek Hills and acquired a two-stroke penalty. Jason Day and others additionally complained about course configuration and the USGA’s incapacity to maintain the course in playable situation.
Brooks Koepka defended his US Open title with a successful rating of 1 over.
Will or not it’s simpler for Shinnecock if the U.S. Open returns June 18-21?
The ultimate main match of the season, “The Open,” might be held from July sixteenth to nineteenth on the Royal Birkdale Golf Membership in Southport, England. Jordan Spieth hoisted the Claret Jug after a three-stroke victory over Matt Kuchar. McIlroy tied for 4th place with 5 beneath.
