The large majority of golf fans would have been delighted had they been told before The Masters that Rory McIlroy and Scottie Scheffler would finish in the top two at Augusta National.
McIlroy, once again, did not make it easy for himself on Sunday at the first major of the year. However, it was certainly much less dramatic than the conclusion to The Masters 12 months ago.
Advertisement
The Northern Irishman went down the 72nd hole knowing that a bogey would be good enough to give him a one-shot victory over Scheffler.
He made the most of having those five shots to play with. McIlroy tapped in for bogey to become only the fourth man to retain his Masters title after Jack Nicklaus, Sir Nick Faldo, and Tiger Woods.
Butch Harmon says whether Rory McIlroy or Scottie Scheffler is the best golfer in the world right now
McIlroy now has six major titles under his belt. Meanwhile, he is halfway to completing a second Career Grand Slam.
Scheffler proved his brilliance over the weekend at Augusta National. He went into the third round 12 shots behind McIlroy, but fought his way through the field to put the pressure on.
Advertisement
He may wonder what could have been had he holed a birdie putt on the 17th hole on Sunday. But the final leaderboard has whetted the appetite for what is to come over the remainder of the 2026 season.
Interestingly, speaking on Sky Sports, Butch Harmon claimed that he would place McIlroy ahead of Scheffler right now when it comes to who the greatest player on the planet is right now.
“It wouldn’t bother me if Rory won or Justin Rose won. I think they are both deserving. Justin Rose didn’t really do anything wrong. He is just playing… I know Scottie Scheffler is number one in the world, but to me Rory McIlroy is the best player in the world,” he said.
Photo by Chris Turvey/Augusta National/Getty Images
“I know that the stats don’t prove that but just what he has done is amazing and what he did this week is amazing.
Advertisement
“He ran away from everybody in the first two rounds. On Friday he made six birdies in the last seven holes and everybody was saying it’s over.
“The great tournaments are never over until they’re over and he stumbled on Saturday. He did not come out of the gate really strongly. The three putt from nowhere on four, but he comes right back and fights you and fights you.
“Rory McIlroy may be starting his next career, because he went 11 years without winning one but now he has won two in a row and he is going to win more of these Masters, I guarantee you.”
The countdown until the 2027 Masters has already begun after McIlroy and Scheffler fight over the Green Jacket
Thoughts will already turn towards the 2027 Masters and the potential battle that could ensue between McIlroy and Scheffler.
Advertisement
The pair have won four of the last five Masters titles between them. And having Scheffler emerge as McIlroy’s nearest challenger this time around just helps build the excitement for when they both make the drive down Magnolia Lane next year.
Golf fans were arguably not treated to enough titanic tussles between Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson down the stretch on Sunday in the majors.
This past week should give everyone hope that The Masters will provide the stage for several significant battles between the game’s best two players right now.
Read the full article here