McIlroy Reflects on 'Incredible' Masters Victory

Following his record-breaking halfway lead at The Masters, Rory McIlroy acknowledged that failing to secure a historic title defence at Augusta National would have been a difficult outcome to accept. McIlroy became the fourth player in history to achieve back-to-back Masters wins, following his dramatic play-off victory over Justin Rose last year, by claiming a one-shot win over Scottie Scheffler on Sunday. The world No 2 had built a six-shot halfway lead, the largest 36-hole advantage in Masters history, but fell two behind playing partner Cameron Young during the final day after dropping three shots in a two-hole stretch on his first nine. McIlroy responded with four birdies over the rest of the round, securing a sixth major title with a final-hole bogey, joining Jack Nicklaus, Sir Nick Faldo, and Tiger Woods as the only players to win The Masters in successive years. 'I thought it was so difficult to win last year because of trying to win The Masters and the Grand Slam, then this year I realised it's just really difficult to win The Masters,' McIlroy admitted. 'I tried to convince myself it was both. Yeah, just incredible. I obviously did the bulk of my work on Thursday and Friday. I don't think I would have believed anyone if they said to me all you have to do is shoot even-par for the weekend and you'll win.' McIlroy started the final round tied for the lead but lost ground when he followed a birdie at the third with a three-putt double-bogey at the par-three next, with a dropped shot at the fifth dropping him further behind. He followed successive gains from the sixth by adding back-to-back birdies from the 12th, putting him three ahead with five to play, with a one-under 71 enough to hold off Scheffler's weekend charge. 'I don't make it easy!' McIlroy admitted. 'I used to make it easy back in my early 20s when I was winning these things by eight shots. No, it's just hard. It's hard to win golf tournaments, especially around here. You've had maybe a couple of runaway winners over the years, but it always seems to be a very tight finish at this golf course.' McIlroy completed the third leg of the Grand Slam in 2014 but had 10 unsuccessful attempts after that to claim The Masters, his only missing major, with the Northern Irishman now claiming the Green Jacket in his 17th and 18th appearances at Augusta National. 'I just can't believe I waited 17 years to get one Green Jacket and I get two in a row,' McIlroy added in the Butler Cabin. 'I think all my perseverance at this golf tournament over the years has really started to pay off.'