On April 12, 2026, Rory McIlroy, the second-best golfer in the world according to ESPN, won his second Masters championship, following up his win in 2025. This makes McIlroy the fourth person ever to win back-to-back Masters Tournaments, cementing his name next to golf legends such as Tiger Woods and Jack Nicklaus. Over the four-day tournament, with one game per tournament day, Rory managed to hit an impressive 12 strokes under par. He beat out Scottie Scheffler, the best golfer in the world according to ESPN, by only one stroke, making his win margin razor thin, leaving zero room for any accidents, especially as Scheffler was inching closer to overtaking McIlroy. Despite Scheffler’s four strokes under par fourth round, McIlroy’s impeccable early round performance was able to keep him ahead despite him gaining only a one stroke under par fourth round outcome. This marks McIlroy’s 18th Masters Tournament that he participated in. Getting to the Masters is a feat in itself, making it the dream of every golfer to reach as high an echelon to receive an invite.
McIlroy picked up his first golf club at just 2 years old, only taking seven years to win his first tournament. At just 16 years old, McIlroy dropped out of school to pursue a career as a golfer, reaching the professional level just a couple of years later. In his early years, he found much success, winning tournament after tournament. His latest win at the Masters marks his sixth major championship win. McIlroy also has received a career Grand Slam for winning all major championships: the Open Championship, the U.S. Open, the PGA Championship, and finally the Masters Tournament. This again cements his name on a list of only six people who have ever been able to receive a career Grand Slam, including Woods, who, despite being an active golfer and the recipient of 15 major championship titles, was absent at the 2026 Masters Tournament.
Woods decided to skip the Masters Tournament after he was involved in a highly publicized DUI car crash in Florida that occurred on March 27, 2026. While the situation is still under investigation, there are worries about Woods’ health after he flipped his car while under the influence. This crash marks the second car that he has totaled in the past five years, since his horrendous crash which he sustained in 2021. It has been reported that it may have to do with his high usage of pain medication due to the strain that golf has on the body with the demanding muscle strength. Woods is currently in rehab, where he will hopefully recover and return to golf. It is still unclear when Woods will make his return, but his absence at the Masters is quite concerning, especially due to it being one of the most prolific and famous golf tournaments in the world.
The Masters Tournament is a long-standing golf tradition that has been running since 1934 in Augusta, GA. One iconic tradition at the Masters is the green jacket received by the winners. They are exclusive to the winner of the tournament, and the current winner is the only person allowed to take their jacket out of the premises. For past years’ winners, they are only allowed to wear their jackets when they return to the club. The jacket is so iconic due to its prestige and strict rules for people who wear the jacket, aligning with the prestige of the Augusta National Golf Club. The course started as a potential host club for the U.S. Open but was made into its own majors championship instead. Since its conception, it has been considered one of the most prestigious and sought after clubs to play at due to its highly maintained green and exclusivity. To become a member at the Augusta National Golf Club, where the Masters is held, one must receive an invite from the club, since there is no application process. In addition, one must pay tens of thousands of dollars as an initial fee, and tens of thousands of dollars in annual fees tacked on. There are only around three hundred members at any time, meaning for a new member to be added, an existing member would have to pass away for there to be a new spot open for additional members. The Masters also gets a lot of publicity for their famous and surprisingly reasonably priced sandwiches. This includes their egg salad sandwich and pimento cheese sandwich, coming in at just $1.50 each. They are also known for their merchandise that resells for exuberant prices but is exclusive to the attendees of the Masters. Getting a ticket to the Masters is a tough feat, adding to the exclusivity of the tournament. There is a lottery every year to invite people from the public, but with an acceptance rate of less than 1 percent, many apply and wait for decades just for the chance to attend. Additionally, many aftermarket tickets can go for over $10,000 for a weekend pass. While this is generally out of reach, it just might be worth it for the exclusive and highly coveted Masters branded lawn gnomes going for over 10 times their value on the secondhand markets.
Look out for the Masters next year to see if McIlroy will defend his green jacket and become the first person to win three consecutive Masters and make history.
