Rory McIlroy made golf history on Sunday, achieving a stunning second consecutive Masters victory and joining an elite group of successful major defenders. This feat was last accomplished by Brooks Koepka, who won back-to-back PGA Championships, becoming the second player in the 21st century to defend two different majors, following Tiger Woods. McIlroy overcame a dramatic final round, where he initially squandered a six-shot halfway lead, to claim his second Green Jacket in a row. He became the first back-to-back winner of The Masters since Tiger Woods, navigating a roller-coaster Sunday to secure a one-shot victory at Augusta National.
McIlroy built a historic six-stroke lead at the halfway point but found himself two shots behind early in the final round. However, he responded with back-to-back birdies and added successive gains to briefly go three ahead, setting up a thrilling finish.
McIlroy avoided a repeat of his late stumble from the previous year, taking a two-shot lead to the 72nd hole and closing out a narrow win with a two-putt bogey. The world No. 2 posted a one-under 71 to finish on 12 under, one ahead of Scottie Scheffler, with Tyrrell Hatton's brilliant final-round 66 putting him in third spot alongside Justin Rose, Cameron Young, and Russell Henley. This achievement marks McIlroy's sixth major win, solidifying his position among golf's elite.
Brooks Koepka made history with his second major defense in 2019, surviving a back-nine collapse and a final-round fightback from Dustin Johnson to cling on for victory at the PGA Championship. Koepka became the first player in nearly three decades to defend the US Open title, triumphing by one shot from Tommy Fleetwood at Shinnecock Hills in New York. He claimed his first major title at the 2017 US Open at Erin Hills, marking his fourth major win in eight starts and propelling him to world No. 1.
Curtis Strange ended an even longer wait for a US Open defense when he won in 1989, becoming the first man to do so since Ben Hogan in 1950 and 1951. Strange needed a playoff to win his first major in 1988 at Brookline, Massachusetts, and then managed to win the following year at Oak Hill in New York within the regulation four days.
Nick Faldo was performing a similar trick at the Masters, becoming the first man to defend at Augusta in 24 years since Jack Nicklaus in 1966. Faldo was already a major winner, having won The Open in 1987, and recovered from his playoff disappointment at the US Open in 1988 to claim the Masters the following year.
Tiger Woods became the first man in a decade to defend a major when he won the first PGA Championship of the new millennium. Woods established himself as the dominant force in golf, claiming victories in 2000 at the US Open and The Open. He would go on to claim the PGA title again at Valhalla, forcing Bob May into a three-hole playoff, which Woods claimed by a single shot.
Woods was at it again, managing to retain the Green Jacket and becoming the first man to do so since Faldo in 1990. He came back strongly to lead by a shot heading into the final day and saw off the challenge of David Duval to finish on 16 under. Woods could not defend any of his other titles in 2001 but did go on to win the Masters again in 2002, finishing three shots clear of Retief Goosen. Woods became the first man in 23 years to defend The Open when he won in 2006, lifting the Claret Jug for the second time in his career on the Old Course at St Andrews in 2005.
Six years after retaining his PGA title in 2000, Woods would win it again in back-to-back years in 2006 and 2007. Harrington became the first man to defend a major, aside from Woods, in 18 years as he won The Open in 2007 and 2008.
The Irishman came from six shots behind Sergio Garcia on the final day at Carnoustie to force a four-hole playoff, which he won with an even score after Garcia bogeyed the first. Harrington would claim victory a year later at Royal Birkdale, as Greg Norman slipped out of contention. The list of players who have successfully defended their major titles includes Jack Nicklaus, Nick Faldo, Tiger Woods, Rory McIlroy, Ben Hogan, Curtis Strange, Brooks Koepka, Bobby Locke, Peter Thomson, Arnold Palmer, Lee Trevino, Tom Watson, and Padraig Harrington. Will McIlroy enjoy more major success?
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