The Masters 2026: The five key shots in Rory McIlroy’s second Augusta victory

This will likely be the best bogey of McIlroy’s career.

With a two-shot lead in the 18th inning, it was all but over, but McIlroy hit a wild shot and sent the ball flying to right and into the trees.

Hearts suddenly started to accelerate again.

After what seemed like an eternity, he lobbed his ball through the pine straw into a greenside bunker as he tried to direct thousands of spectators toward the green from the intended line of scrimmage.

It was an important moment. Another poor putt could easily have led to a double bogey and a playoff with Scheffler.

He backed that up with a powerful shot from the sand to 12 feet and took both of them by two strokes for the title.

The seven-inch final putt was the length every player dreamed of to win a major.

There was a huge emotional release. McIlroy hugged caddy Harry Diamond, looked up at the sky and began to roar as he raised his arms in the air – his sixth major title cementing his place as one of the sport’s greats.