Featured Image: Rory McIlroy celebrates on the 18th green at Augusta National golf club after winning back to back Masters tournaments | (Photo Credits/Golf.com)
History was made with Rory McIlroy as just the fourth player to win back-to-back Masters. McIlroy joined elite company in Jack Nicklaus, Tiger Woods and Nick Faldo. In addition, McIlroy was the first player to win back-to-back Masters since Woods did in 2001 and 2002 — over two decades ago.
The Masters is always a standout sports event with the prestige it holds. Its history, tradition and difficulty continue to uphold the tournament as one a fan favorite and one of the most respected events in all of sports.
Some big surprises included Bryson Dechambeau not making the cut after becoming the second player to win back-to-back tournaments in LIV just this past march. Dechambeau also made headlines using a 3D printed five iron. Along with Bryson Dechambeau not making the cut, there were other notable names that missed the +4 cut: Bubba Watson, J.J. Spaun, Akshay Bhatia, Min Woo Lee, Fred Couples and Vijay Singh.
Day three made for one of the most exciting days. Shane Lowry made a hole-in-one on the par-three 6th adding to his already stacked hole-in-one resume. Scottie Scheffler made the cut after finishing even on day two, which led to him shooting 7-under on day three to make a late round serge. McIlroy was able to hold a six shot lead going into day three, which he would lose after shooting a 73 1-over score allowing Cameron Young to tie him going into day four.
With day three setting up day four to be generational, it did not disappoint. With a green jacket in his sights Scheffler came out and shot 7-under a few holes in front of McIlroy in hopes of a blow up. Scheffler’s score of 133 over the weekend was a personal best for him, he also became the first player in the last 84 years to go bogey-free on the final 36 holes at the Masters. By hole 17, Scheffler needed McIlroy to go 2-over on the last two holes. Luckily for McIlroy, he would go par on 17 and bogey on 18–holding onto to the one shot lead and winning his second masters.
Some other players that shined on day four were Tyrrell Hatton who shot 6-under and found himself tied for third. Alongside Hatton was Russell Henley and Collin Morikawa who both shot 4-under and finished tied for third and seventh, respectively.
Jason Day, who started day four tied for third, had his worst round of the four days on day four. Day shot a 3-over to drop almost 10 spots and finish tied for 12th.
The final hole came down to McIlroy. It was his to win. Off the tee, he found himself sitting on some pine needles after a bad drive. He then, from the pine needles, hit an aggressive approach and found himself short of the green in the green side bunkers. Then with about a 20 foot putt, all he needed was to make it in two. After securing the two-putt, McIlroy could put the green jacket on once again.
Now McIlroy has a chance to become the first golfer to three-peat at the Masters. The closest to the mark was Nick Faldo who, after winning back-to-back green jackets, tied for 12th at the following tournament.
