With the Master coming to a close, and Rory McIlroy taking home another green jacket, Rory had the biggest stroke lead (6 strokes) heading into Day 3, the lowest in Masters history. On Day 4, he lost that lead for a short time before finding his feet and gaining it back on the inward nine. After getting the lead again, Rory was the second player in history to win back-to-back behind Tiger Woods in 01-02.
“I thought it was so difficult to win last year because of trying to win the Masters and the Grand Slam, and then this year I realized it’s just really difficult to win the Masters,” McIlroy said. “I tried to convince myself it was both.” (ESPN)
Like usual, the final day didn’t come with any drama; Rory sliced his drive into the trees on 18 with a 2-stroke lead. With his shot almost on 10 fairway, as most people would, he hooked an 8-iron over the trees into a greenside bunker, he punched out on the green and two putted for bogey. A 1-stroke victory over the Number 1 player in the world, Scottie Scheffler, who finished 11 under par.
“There wasn’t much to say [to caddie Harry Diamond],” McIlroy said of the drive on 18. “I think we were both just hoping that my ball wasn’t in a really bad spot or behind a tree. I was just hoping that I had a swing.” (ESPN)
Justin rose to a 3-time runner-up and played in a playoff hole with Rory last year, Started the round 3 strokes behind Rory. He finished the first nine with 3 straight birdies to move to 12 under for a two-stroke lead when he made the turn.
But it was another devastating finish for Rose. On the 11th, he pushed his approach shot far to the right. He chipped over a bunker on his third shot and couldn’t make a 15-footer for par. The bogey dropped him to 11 under, tying him with McIlroy.
