Golf journalist Evin Priest is at Augusta National, where he has witnessed Rory McIlroy’s historic win and filed a report for us.
Priest writes: “A year after delivering professional golf’s most emotional day with his completion of the career grand slam in a play-off at Augusta National, McIlroy emerged as the last-man-standing after one of the most helter-skelter Masters in its 90-year history.”
Rory McIlroy has claimed back-to-back US Masters with a nerveless back nine on Sunday to hold off a late challenge from Scottie Scheffler.
It was a brilliant performance from McIlroy after he made a double bogey at the par three fourth when he made three putts. A bogey at the sixth saw him tumble down the leaderboard as he sat at -9.
But a brilliant back nine saw him card three under for the remaining 12 holes after making bogey at the final hole.
McIlroy is just the fourth player to go back-to-back in the US Masters joining Jack Nicklaus, Nick Faldo and Tiger Woods with that feat. He is the first since 2001-2002.
Sand trap shot needed for McIlroy who can afford to make a bogey and still retain the lead.
Scheffler will be rueing the putt on 17 which just failed to drop.
McIlroy has put his final drive on to the 10th fairway as he tries to protect a two-shot lead over Scottie Scheffler into the 18th.
This is game on for McIlroy as his second shot will decide his fate.
It would be an epic choke for McIlroy to lose from here as he tees up on the final hole.
McIlroy’s two chips at 16th and 17 have been extraordinary shots given what is at stake. Somehow he kept his hands soft.
Justin Rose finishes tied for third at -10. He will be kicking himself after leading into Amen Corner and stumbling to hit four over on the back nine. It is Rose’s fifth top 5 finish at a US Masters.
He will be back next year.
After driving a mere 303 yards, yep that’s right, he pushed his second shot right to sit off the 17th green. He is not in a bad spot but he would be more comfortable on the dance floor.
Every step feels more and more fraught as he attempts to negotiate these final two holes.
That was an outstanding up and down to make par at the 16th and now he just has to navigate the final two holes without dropping any shots and hope Cam Young doesn’t pull out a miracle after Justin Rose dropped a shot at the 17th to fall three shots adrift.
We will bring you home with each shot as McIlroy makes a great start to the 17th with an excellent tee shot.
Scottie Scheffler’s charge came to an end as he plays the final two rounds bogey free in an amazing weekend.
He shoots 68 today to sit in the clubhouse at -11 just two shots behind Rory McIlroy who has to bring it home. He has shot 11 under on the weekend.
Justin Rose is also on -11 with four players on -10 including Cam Young and Sam Burns who remain on the course.
McIlroy is off the back of the green on the par three 16th.
Rory McIlroy is looking to join Jack Nicklaus, Nick Faldo and Tiger Woods as back-to-back US Masters winner after winning a career grand slam last year.
He makes par on the 15th. A nervous three holes ahead.
Meanwhile Sam Burns holed a 60-foot putt to move to -10.