By any and every measure the 36-year-old must now be considered one of the greatest of all time and, after he fended off the fast-finishing Scottie Scheffler, the countdown has already started to see if he can go where no other Masters champion has before: win three in a row.
There can be no doubt that this is his manor after a display of clinical fortitude. He lost a six-shot advantage on Saturday and after a double-bogey on the fourth – courtesy of a three-putt from nine feet – and a bogey on the par-three sixth, he was two off the pace. And with Justin Rose pulling a few clear at the turn and world No 1 Scheffler poised to make his run, it looked bleak for McIlroy.
But he did not panic and having largely fixed his left miss in Saturday night’s late, emergency practice session in the floodlights, he stuck by his gameplan. McIlroy outblasted and ultimately outlasted his rivals, including the world No 3 Cameron Young – and prevailed over Scheffler (68) by a shot on 12-under following a 72. It sounds like a whisker, but, in truth, it was a long whisker.
“I just can’t believe I waited 17 years to get one green jacket and now I get two in a row,” he said. “I did the bulk of my work on Thursday and Friday, but I’m just so happy to hang in there and get the job done.”
In terms of being a roller-coaster, it did not begin to rival the unbelievable, gut-wobbling scenes of 12 months before. But then, how could it? In 2025, it had been 11 years since McIlroy had won his fourth major and every year after that he had visited the major that seemingly suited his game most and the pressure had built as he tried to emulate Ben Hogan, Gene Sarazen, Gary Player, Nicklaus and Woods in completing the career grand slam.
At least four times in that crazy scenario, he had one arm in that Green Jacket until he finally saw off Rose in a play-off. This time around it was tense, but it was not on the same level. McIlroy knew it would not be as he explained on Saturday night.
“I’d like to think that I’ll play a little bit freer and I’ll play, you know, like I’ve already got a Green Jacket, which I do,” he said. “Sometimes I maybe just have to remind myself of that, but I think as well that the stakes in terms of, like, the pairing will be just a little bit easier. You know, the atmosphere out there will be a little bit easier. Yeah, I’m not worried about that at all.”
Some took that to mean he was not as motivated, but if that is the case they do not know McIlroy and they do not remember 2014. That was his most spectacular year to date when, as a player in his mid 20s, he won back to back majors. This now has the feel of those days and it will be intriguing to see where he takes this next. He is playing freely and is highly dangerous.