Rory McIlroy put on his first Masters green jacket in 2025 after dramatically winning the tournament.
McIlroy will have the opportunity to join an exclusive club, becoming one of four golfers to win back-to-back Masters Tournaments. He would join Jack Nicklaus (1965-66), Nick Faldo (1989-90) and Tiger Woods (2001-02).
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In order to reach the feat, he will have to overcome contenders such as Cameron Young and Sam Burns.
McIlroy made a strong case to accomplish the feat after returning to Augusta National Golf Course this week. He set the record for largest 36-hole lead in the tournament’s history. He was 7-under par 65, moving to 12-under through the first two rounds of the tournament.
McIlroy struggled on Saturday, producing a double-bogey at the No. 11 hole and the following miscues allowed Young to tie him the top of the leaderboard.
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Rory McIlroy let 6‑stroke Masters lead slip away still co‑leader
The weekend arrives with the leaderboard tightening and pressure rising at Augusta National.
These images follow Rory McIlroy as he begins Saturday in the hunt at the Masters.
Above, Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland lines up a putt on the 14th green during the third round of the 2026 Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club on April 11, 2026, in Augusta, Georgia.
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Rory McIlroy let 6‑stroke Masters lead slip away still co‑leader
The weekend arrives with the leaderboard tightening and pressure rising at Augusta National.
These images follow Rory McIlroy as he begins Saturday in the hunt at the Masters.
Above, Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland lines up a putt on the 14th green during the third round of the 2026 Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club on April 11, 2026, in Augusta, Georgia.
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Rory McIlroy let 6‑stroke Masters lead slip away still co‑leader
Rory McIlroy tees off on the fourth hole during the third round of the Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club.
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Rory McIlroy let 6‑stroke Masters lead slip away still co‑leader
Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland plays a shot on the 11th hole during the third round of the 2026 Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club on April 11, 2026, in Augusta, Georgia.
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Rory McIlroy let 6‑stroke Masters lead slip away still co‑leader
Rory McIlroy walks up the first fairway during the third round of the Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club.
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Rory McIlroy let 6‑stroke Masters lead slip away still co‑leader
Rory McIlroy misses a putt on the first green during the third round of the Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club.
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Rory McIlroy let 6‑stroke Masters lead slip away still co‑leader
Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland plays his shot from the 11th tee during the third round of the 2026 Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club on April 11, 2026, in Augusta, Georgia.
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Rory McIlroy let 6‑stroke Masters lead slip away still co‑leader
Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland walks on the seventh green during the third round of the 2026 Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club on April 11, 2026, in Augusta, Georgia.
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Rory McIlroy let 6‑stroke Masters lead slip away still co‑leader
Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland looks on from the second hole during the third round of the 2026 Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club on April 11, 2026, in Augusta, Georgia.
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Rory McIlroy let 6‑stroke Masters lead slip away still co‑leader
Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland looks on from the practice green during the third round of the 2026 Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club on April 11, 2026, in Augusta, Georgia.
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Rory McIlroy let 6‑stroke Masters lead slip away still co‑leader
Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland plays a shot at the tournament practice area during the third round of the 2026 Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club on April 11, 2026, in Augusta, Georgia.
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Rory McIlroy let 6‑stroke Masters lead slip away still co‑leader
Rory McIlroy chips onto the fourth green during the third round of the Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club.
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Rory McIlroy let 6‑stroke Masters lead slip away still co‑leader
Rory McIlroy tees off on the first hole during the third round of the Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club.
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Rory McIlroy let 6‑stroke Masters lead slip away still co‑leader
Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland plays a shot on the first hole during the third round of the 2026 Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club on April 11, 2026, in Augusta, Georgia.
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Rory McIlroy let 6‑stroke Masters lead slip away still co‑leader
Sam Burns and Rory McIlroy walk down the first fairway during the third round of the Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club.
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Rory McIlroy let 6‑stroke Masters lead slip away still co‑leader
Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland looks on from the practice green during the third round of the 2026 Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club on April 11, 2026, in Augusta, Georgia.
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Rory McIlroy let 6‑stroke Masters lead slip away still co‑leader
Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland walks on the second green during the third round of the 2026 Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club on April 11, 2026, in Augusta, Georgia.
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Rory McIlroy let 6‑stroke Masters lead slip away still co‑leader
Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland looks on from the third green during the third round of the 2026 Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club on April 11, 2026, in Augusta, Georgia.
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Rory McIlroy let 6‑stroke Masters lead slip away still co‑leader
Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland plays his shot from the third tee during the third round of the 2026 Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club on April 11, 2026, in Augusta, Georgia.
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Rory McIlroy let 6‑stroke Masters lead slip away still co‑leader
Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland looks at his ball on the second green during the third round of the 2026 Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club on April 11, 2026, in Augusta, Georgia.
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Rory McIlroy let 6‑stroke Masters lead slip away still co‑leader
Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland plays a shot on the seventh hole during the third round of the 2026 Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club on April 11, 2026, in Augusta, Georgia.
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Rory McIlroy let 6‑stroke Masters lead slip away still co‑leader
Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland walks to the eighth tee during the third round of the 2026 Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club on April 11, 2026, in Augusta, Georgia.
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Rory McIlroy let 6‑stroke Masters lead slip away still co‑leader
Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland plays his shot from the 11th tee during the third round of the 2026 Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club on April 11, 2026, in Augusta, Georgia.
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Rory McIlroy let 6‑stroke Masters lead slip away still co‑leader
Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland plays a shot from a bunker on the seventh hole during the third round of the 2026 Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club on April 11, 2026, in Augusta, Georgia.
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Rory McIlroy let 6‑stroke Masters lead slip away still co‑leader
Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland and Sam Burns of the United States walk the eighth fairway during the third round of the 2026 Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club on April 11, 2026, in Augusta, Georgia.
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Rory McIlroy let 6‑stroke Masters lead slip away still co‑leader
Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland moves an obstruction out of the way on the 13th hole during the third round of the 2026 Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club on April 11, 2026, in Augusta, Georgia.
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Rory McIlroy let 6‑stroke Masters lead slip away still co‑leader
Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland speaks to the rules official on the 13th hole during the third round of the 2026 Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club on April 11, 2026, in Augusta, Georgia.
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Rory McIlroy let 6‑stroke Masters lead slip away still co‑leader
Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland asks patrons to move on the 13th hole during the third round of the 2026 Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club on April 11, 2026, in Augusta, Georgia.
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Rory McIlroy let 6‑stroke Masters lead slip away still co‑leader
Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland plays a shot on the 13th hole during the third round of the 2026 Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club on April 11, 2026, in Augusta, Georgia.
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Rory McIlroy let 6‑stroke Masters lead slip away still co‑leader
Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland lines up a putt on the 15th hole during the third round of the 2026 Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club on April 11, 2026, in Augusta, Georgia.
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Rory McIlroy let 6‑stroke Masters lead slip away still co‑leader
Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland looks on from the 15th hole during the third round of the 2026 Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club on April 11, 2026, in Augusta, Georgia.
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Rory McIlroy let 6‑stroke Masters lead slip away still co‑leader
Patrons watch as Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland walks the 16th fairway during the third round of the 2026 Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club on April 11, 2026, in Augusta, Georgia.
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Rory McIlroy let 6‑stroke Masters lead slip away still co‑leader
Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland reacts on the 15th green during the third round of the 2026 Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club on April 11, 2026, in Augusta, Georgia.
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Rory McIlroy let 6‑stroke Masters lead slip away still co‑leader
Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland putts on the 12th green during the third round of the 2026 Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club on April 11, 2026 in Augusta, Georgia.
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Rory McIlroy let 6‑stroke Masters lead slip away still co‑leader
Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland looks on from the 13th hole during the third round of the 2026 Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club on April 11, 2026, in Augusta, Georgia.
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Rory McIlroy let 6‑stroke Masters lead slip away still co‑leader
Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland plays his shot from the 12th tee during the third round of the 2026 Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club on April 11, 2026, in Augusta, Georgia.
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Rory McIlroy let 6‑stroke Masters lead slip away still co‑leader
Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland reacts on the 13th green during the third round of the 2026 Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club on April 11, 2026, in Augusta, Georgia.
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Rory McIlroy let 6‑stroke Masters lead slip away still co‑leader
Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland walks the 12th fairway during the third round of the 2026 Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club on April 11, 2026, in Augusta, Georgia.
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Rory McIlroy let 6‑stroke Masters lead slip away still co‑leader
Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland and his caddie Harry Diamond walks over the Hogan Bridge to the 12th hole green during the third round of the 2026 Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club on April 11, 2026, in Augusta, Georgia.
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Rory McIlroy let 6‑stroke Masters lead slip away still co‑leader
Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland plays a shot on the 14th hole during the third round of the 2026 Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club on April 11, 2026, in Augusta, Georgia.
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Rory McIlroy let 6‑stroke Masters lead slip away still co‑leader
Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland looks on from the 15th green during the third round of the 2026 Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club on April 11, 2026, in Augusta, Georgia.
But McIlroy learned last year how to keep his composure and grind out a Masters victory.
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Can he repeat the feat Sunday, April 12 and don his second green jacket? Perhaps, he can take inspiration from his victory in 2025.
How did Rory McIlroy win 2025 Masters?
McIlroy won in a sudden-death playoff against Justin Rose to win the Masters and complete the career Grand Slam.
McIlroy had a double bogey on the 13th hole and missed a short putt on the 18th hole, carding a 1-over 73 in the final round. Rose, meanwhile, surged with final-round 66, to leave both golfers tied with an 11-under 277 for the tournament.
The two competitors replayed the 18th and started off with ideal tee shots. On their second shots, Rose nearly hit it into the hole and got to within 15 feet, while McIlroy’s ball had incredible backspin after hitting the green to end up 4 feet away. Rose couldn’t make the putt and settled for par.
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After he nailed the winning putt, a four-foot birdie, McIlroy fell to his knees as the celebration was on. He was visibly emotional, and all the pain and frustration from years past are now wiped away with his first Masters victory.
With the win, the 35-year-old from Northern Ireland became the sixth golfer to win the career Grand Slam and the first since Tiger Woods capped off the achievement in 2000.
Masters rewind: See highlights from McIlroy’s 2025 victory
Contributing: Jordan Mendoza
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Who won 2025 Masters? Rory McIlroy claimed victory one year ago
