Rory McIlroy admitted that a recent Masters rule change caught him out after he successfully defended his title at Augusta National. The Northern Irishman made history by winning golf's most prestigious tournament for the second consecutive year, securing a one-shot victory over runner-up Scottie Scheffler and claiming the £3.5 million jackpot. He retained the Green Jacket, joining the ranks of repeat champions like Tiger Woods, Nick Faldo, and Jack Nicklaus.
Normally, the outgoing champion presents the Green Jacket to the new winner. However, because McIlroy went back-to-back, he was left in an unusual position. He had been vocal about wanting to put the jacket on himself, as Jack Nicklaus did in 1966 when he became the first to defend his title. But a rule change now requires the Augusta chairman to step in when no former champion is available.
Chairman Fred Ridley performed the honours, and McIlroy later admitted he was caught short. 'It still fits, which is nice,' the 36-year-old said. 'My parting message last year was: “I can't wait to come back next year and put the Green Jacket on myself”. I wasn't quite correct, because the chairman did it, but I did want to come back here and prove last year wasn't a fluke.'
Multiple champions receive only one Green Jacket, meaning McIlroy did not get a second for his victory. He will keep it for 12 months before returning it to the clubhouse unless he triumphs again. McIlroy expressed hunger for more success at Augusta, saying, 'I’m not putting a number on it but I certainly don’t want to stop here.' Reflecting on his emotions, he added, 'I just looked at the back of the green because I saw my mum and dad and Erica and Poppy... I was just like: “I can’t believe I’ve just done it again”.'
