Rory McIlroy, long one of the top golfers in the world, finally secured his first green jacket and snapped a 10-year major title drought by winning the Masters in 2025. And now, the reigning champion has gone back-to-back.
McIlroy held off a late push by World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler over the weekend to come away with the 2026 Masters Tournament title.
The 36-year-old shot 12-under par in the tournament, just ahead of an 11-under effort by Scheffler. McIlroy joins Scheffler (2022, 2024) as a two-time Masters champion, and he becomes just the fourth repeat champion in Masters history, joining Jack Nicklaus (1965-66), Nick Faldo (1989-90), and Tiger Woods (2001-02).
Jim Nantz and CBS met the moment for McIlroy’s first Masters title in 2025.
How about this time around?
Here’s the call from Nantz:
“And here we go,” Nantz, the longtime Masters voice, said on the CBS broadcast as McIlroy set up for a tap-in putt at the 18th hole at Augusta National Golf Club. “His year again.”
“Rory is a rare repeat winner at Augusta!”
Compare that to Nantz’s call on McIlroy’s title-sealing putt last year.
“The long journey is over! McIlroy has his masterpiece!” Nantz exclaimed in 2025.
McIlroy took a six-shot lead into the weekend, and while things got tight on Saturday and Sunday, he found a way to get it done again. And as Nantz said, McIlroy is now in rare territory for the most prestigious tournament in golf.
About Matt Clapp
Matt is an editor/writer at The Comeback and Awful Announcing.
He can be reached by email at mclapp@thecomeback.com.