Rory McIlroy shakes off setbacks, wins rare back-to-back Masters titles
Rory McIlroy avoided a meltdown on the 18th hole on Sunday, joining Tiger Woods, Jack Nicklaus and Nick Faldo as the only Masters back-to-back winners.
Rory McIlroy reacts on the 18th green at Augusta National on Sunday. McIlroy won back-to-back Masters crowns. (Jared C.
Tilton / Getty Images) From wire-to-wire to a harrowing high-wire act. That pretty much describes Rory McIlroy's Masters. He became the fourth man to win back-to-back green jackets Sunday, surviving some shaky golf and a dramatic surge by some of the best players in the world.
With Scottie Scheffler, Justin Rose and a host of others on his heels, McIlroy steadied himself and pulled away down the stretch. But there was drama even on the par-4 18th hole. Needling only a bogey to win, McIlroy hit his tee shot deep into the trees on the right.
He hit a high, right-to-left shot out of the pine straw into the front left bunker. Two putts later and a second jacket was his, a one-shot victory over Sheffler. Read more: Defending champ Rory McIlroy excels in tough conditions to share Masters lead A year ago, McIlroy beat Rose in a sudden-death playoff at Augusta to complete a career grand slam.