Rory McIlroy has made history, again.
On Sunday, April 12 at Augusta National Golf Club, McIloroy took home his second green jacket in two years at the Masters. McIlroy won his fist Masters last year to earn himself the title of a career Grand Slam. A Grand Slam in golf is when all four majors are won, including the Masters, US Open, British Open, and PGA Championship.
The first ever golfer to win a back-to-back Master’s was Jack Nicklaus in 1995 and 1996. The other two golfers that have won twice in a row are Nick Faldo in 1989 and 1990, as well as Tiger Woods in 2001 and 2002. McIlroy added to the list after a 24-year drought of no back-to-back champions.
McIlroy played exceptionally well all four days of the Masters, with his best day being Friday, shooting seven under par and carding a 65. Saturday, McIlroy lost his six stroke lead and went into Sunday sharing the lead with Cameron Young. McIlroy played a strong round of golf on Sunday and finished the tournament 12-under par.
The Masters made its debut in March 1924. It is played every year in April at Augusta National Golf Club in Augusta Georgia, and is considered the most watched tournament in golf.
Deacon Golderer, a junior boarder from Deavon Penn., is happy for McIlroy’s second Masters win, although he did want to see others some other players rise to the top.
“I have been a Rory fan since I was a kid,” he said. “I always want to see him win and it’s great that he has been showing up when it matters. I was obviously cheering for Rory this Masters, but I also wanted to see Jordan Speith and Tommy Fleetwood do well as they are my other favorite players.”
Jordan Speith has not won a major since the 2017 U.S. Open, with his last Masters win in 2015. Tommy Fleetwood is yet to win a major tournament.
After day two of the Masters, cuts happen. Deacon was shocked by two in particular.
“Some of the shocking cuts going into the weekend were definitely Bryson and JJ Spaun,” he said. “I expected both of them to play well but the biggest surprise was definitely Bryson’s meltdown considering how lots of people had him as a major contender this year.”
Bryson DeChambeau was ranked 24th in the world going into the tournament, and was a top candidate at the Masters this year. He was is a recent winner of the US Open back in 2024. Unfortunately, he fell short this year at Augusta.
Barrett Clark, a senior boarder from Alberta, Canada, was unsure if McIlroy was going to go back to back.
“Watching him on Sunday, I was kind of worried that he may not be able to hold on and win it but near the end, he only needed a bogey on 18,” he said.
Clark told The Willistonion that although he wanted to see Rory win it, he also had another golfer in mind.
“I was cheering for Matt Fitzpatrick because I had a bet going, and also a little bit for Rory because it would be cool to see a back to back,” he said.
Rory took home $4.5 million dollars at the 2026 Masters. Last year, he gathered $4.2 million at the tournament, and a total of $35.8 million for the year.
Dr. Andrew Shelffo, an English teacher at Williston, is an avid golfer and fan, though not a fan of golfers who are a part of LIV golf.
“I was rooting for Rory and Scottie Scheffler,” he said. “I also cheered against the LIV golfers in the field.”
There are lots of mixed feelings surrounding LIV Golf with its very different rules. Higher payout, shorter tournaments, and team play are some of the things that make it different then the PGA. Some golfers that competed in the Masters this year who are part of LIV Golf are Bryson DeChambeau and Jon Rahm.
