Rory McIlroy has spent the better part of two decades treating the Masters like a particularly cruel ex-girlfriend. He turned up every year, said all the right things, and then watched his dreams go up in smoke at the first sign of a pine tree. But it turns out that once you actually win the thing, the second one comes along like a London bus.
At 36 years old, the man from Northern Ireland has just become only the fourth person in history to win back to back Masters titles. He joins a tiny club that includes Jack Nicklaus, Nick Faldo, and Tiger Woods. Not bad for a man who spent 17 years looking like he might never even get a sniff of a Green Jacket.
The Great British Heartbreak
While Rory was busy proving that last year was not a fluke, he had to trample over the dreams of another local hero. Justin Rose, the 45 year old English veteran, was trying to become the oldest first time winner in history. For a moment, it looked like we were getting a proper sporting fairytale.
Rose actually held a one shot lead midway through the final round. Unfortunately, he found the pressure at Amen Corner a bit much to handle. He dropped shots on the 11th and 12th holes, while Rory stayed as cool as a cucumber. Last year, Rose pushed him into a play-off. This year, Rose just got a front row seat to the McIlroy show.
A Sunday Without the Scares
It would not be a proper weekend at Augusta without Rory making us all feel a bit sick. He started Sunday with a double bogey on the fourth and another bogey on the sixth. Usually, this is the part where he collapses and starts looking for the nearest exit.
Instead, he roared back with birdies on the seventh and eighth. He even attacked the pin on the 12th, a hole that has ruined more careers than a bad Twitter post. He finished with a 71, putting him at 12 under par. That was just enough to stay one stroke clear of the world number one, Scottie Scheffler.
Freedom in the Fairway
Rory insists that winning his first Green Jacket changed him as a man. He claims he can now play with freedom because the weight of the career Grand Slam is finally off his shoulders. He swapped his massive drives for actual accuracy, which is a sensible move when you are trying to win a tournament rather than just show off for the cameras.
Rory has now matched Sir Nick Faldo with six major titles. It seems the psychological hold Augusta once had on him has vanished. He walked off the course looking like a man who just completed a light Sunday stroll rather than someone who just survived a shootout with the world’s best golfers.
So, Rory has two jackets now. That is perfect for the unpredictable British weather, though he might find wearing two at once a bit bulky for the dinner table.
Do you think Rory will make it a hat trick next year, or has he finally used up all his luck in the Georgia woods?
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