Rory McIlroy secured his second consecutive Masters title at Augusta National on Sunday, carding a one-under-par 71 to finish at 12 under and hold off a charging Scottie Scheffler. The Northern Irishman becomes only the fourth golfer in history to successfully defend the green jacket, joining Jack Nicklaus, Nick Faldo and Tiger Woods.
Among the many congratulatory messages was one from former US President Donald Trump, who took to social media to praise McIlroy. Trump described the 36-year-old's performance as 'tremendous under intense pressure' and declared that McIlroy is 'becoming more and more a LEGEND' with each passing year. He also looked ahead to the player's potential appearance at Trump National Doral later this month.
McIlroy's victory marks his sixth major championship and his second Masters win, ending years of near-misses at Augusta. In the Butler Cabin ceremony, he reflected on his journey: 'I just can't believe I waited 17 years to get one green jacket, and I get two in a row. All of my perseverance at this golf tournament over the years has really started to pay off.'
The PGA Tour is set to return to Trump National Doral for the Cadillac Championship in 2026, reviving a venue that hosted tour events for over five decades until 2016. It remains unclear whether McIlroy will play at the RBC Heritage next week, but Trump expressed hope that he would tee off at the Miami Championship later this month.
