Rory McIlroy underlined why he is one of the game’s greats by holding off the world’s best to become only the fourth man to win successive Masters titles.
McIlroy’s belief that finally landing the Green Jacket last year would pave the way for more major victories proved prophetic.
Twelve months ago, the 36-year-old from Northern Ireland ended an 11-year wait to complete the career Grand Slam by winning at Augusta National, a victory which he felt would allow him to play with more freedom when he returned in the future.
That is exactly what he has been able to do – at the first opportunity.
McIlroy secured a sixth career major win – to draw level with England’s Sir Nick Faldo – on another Masters Sunday for the ages.
He held off the likes of English veteran Justin Rose – whose own Augusta dream was dashed again by his European Ryder Cup team-mate – and eventually finished one stroke ahead of American world number one and two-time winner Scottie Scheffler on 12 under par.
Rose, 45, was aiming to become the oldest first-time Masters champion and looked to be creating his own fairytale story when he moved into a one-shot lead midway through his final round.
He was pipped by McIlroy in a play-off last year, but put himself in position to avenge that defeat as McIlroy’s stone-cold putter loosened his grip on the tournament.
But, with a stacked leaderboard jostling for position behind them, there was a role reversal from the pair’s thrilling battle last year.
Then, McIlroy faltered under the weight of history as a free-swinging Rose blitzed the back nine to force the extra hole.
Now, Rose felt the pressure – coming undone at Amen Corner’s 11th and 12th holes – as McIlroy proved he truly was unburdened.
There had been doubts. McIlroy exuded serenity on the first two days as he surged into a record six-shot lead at the halfway stage, even though he was still far from his best off the tee.
The same issue caught up with him in Saturday’s third round when he could not take advantage of scoreable conditions and allowed the field to close the gap.
Like all great players, McIlroy ironed out his swing kinks and sacrificed distance with the driver for a greater accuracy which underpinned a gutsy one-under 71 in Sunday’s finale.
The ability to stay patient and solve the problems which he faced was the key as McIlroy joined Jack Nicklaus, Sir Nick Faldo and Tiger Woods as back-to-back winners.
Would McIlroy have been able to show the same resilience if he had not already claimed the Green Jacket? He did not think so.
Throughout the past year McIlroy has insisted how he was returning as a different player and a different man. That is what he has proved over the past four days.
