McIlroy Chases Back-to-Back Masters After Grand Slam
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- Rory McIlroy completed the career Grand Slam at the 2025 Masters with a playoff victory over Justin Rose after squandering a four-shot lead on his back nine, ending an 11-year wait for a fifth major title.
- McIlroy equaled the largest first-round deficit to win The Masters, recovering from seven shots behind after the opening day, and credited patience — playing a 14-hole stretch in 10-under — for the victory.
- McIlroy can become the first player since Tiger Woods to win back-to-back Masters editions, with the 2026 tournament marking his first Augusta appearance as defending champion.
- McIlroy said he feels 'so much more relaxed' this year, describing the narrative shift from 'when are you going to get this done?' to a 'positive connotation' of chasing consecutive titles.
- McIlroy called the career Grand Slam his perceived 'destination' only to realize 'it wasn't the destination,' noting the goalposts 'keep nudging a little bit further and further out of reach.'
- McIlroy called Augusta the most predictable of the majors for him and estimated he has 'hopefully 10 good shots' of winning it, citing course experience as a key advantage.
Why it matters: McIlroy, now world No. 2 and Masters champion, plays the role of favorite rather than chaser for the first time in 17 years at Augusta. With the Grand Slam burden lifted, he sees Augusta as his most predictable major and has set his sights on joining Tiger Woods as the only back-to-back Masters winner of the modern era.
