Imago
The Masters Rory McIlroy NIR with his Masters Trophy and green jacket and family Erica and poppy after the final round of the Masters at Augusta National Golf Club, Augusta, Georgia, USA. 13/04/2025. Picture Fran Caffrey / Golffile.ie rAll photo usage must carry mandatory copyright credit Golffile Fran Caffrey Copyright: xFranxCaffreyx *EDI*
Imago
The Masters Rory McIlroy NIR with his Masters Trophy and green jacket and family Erica and poppy after the final round of the Masters at Augusta National Golf Club, Augusta, Georgia, USA. 13/04/2025. Picture Fran Caffrey / Golffile.ie rAll photo usage must carry mandatory copyright credit Golffile Fran Caffrey Copyright: xFranxCaffreyx *EDI*
Rory McIlroy kicked off the 2026 Masters like he never left Augusta, opening with a 5-under par total and co-lead. By the end of Friday’s second round, he had charged to a 12-under-par total, establishing a record six-shot lead. The largest midway margin the course has ever seen. But as soon as the ‘Moving Day’ Saturday round wrapped, that historic lead had vanished like it never happened. Taking his place atop the leaderboard was Cameron Young, who arrived at Augusta fresh off winning The Players Championship in March 2026. The exact path McIlroy followed during his own Grand Slam quest in 2025.
Watch What’s Trending Now!
But we are talking about Rory McIlroy, a man who built his pedigree on winning from these moments. And once again, as the 90th Masters moved to the second nine on Sunday, the Northern Irishman took the lead in the same way he did last season.
But wait—if he wins the Green Jacket once again, then who will be there to wear it on him? Because he is the past champion and the current recipient himself.
Top Stories
Who will award the green jacket if the defending champion wins it?
The Green Jacket is awarded annually to the winner of the Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club, a tradition that began in 1949 to signify honorary membership into the club. And the primary tradition is that the winner of the previous year’s Masters presents the Green Jacket to the new champion on Sunday evening. It happens in general, and we’ve seen it since Sam Snead.
But what happens if the defending champion isn’t available to put the green jacket on the winner, because he’s also the recipient?
In the rare event of a repeat winner (a golfer wins back-to-back), the Chairman of Augusta National Golf Club presents the jacket to the champion, as the winner cannot present it to themselves. This has happened only three times before: Jack Nicklaus (1966), Nick Faldo (1990), and Tiger Woods (2002).
When the Golden Bear became the first person to win consecutive titles, the club faced its first dilemma. Co-founder Bobby Jones suggested that Nicklaus can put the jacket on himself, and he did. While Nicklaus proceeded to slip into the jacket, the club later decided this self-service approach lacked the proper formal pomp.
By the time Nick Faldo won his second straight Masters, defeating Raymond Floyd in a playoff, the club had already formalized the process. Then-Chairman Hord Hardin, who served as the club’s leader from 1980 to 1991, stepped in to perform the honors.
And the most recent instance came when Tiger Woods won his third Green Jacket and successfully defended his 2001 title. After the precedent set in 1990, the fifth Augusta National Chairman, Hootie Johnson, performed the presentation.
Now, if Rory McIlroy wins the Green Jacket once again, according to the Tournament traditions, the club calls the current chairman, Fred Ridley, to put the jacket back on the defending champion.
Reuters
Golf – The Masters – Augusta National Golf Club, Augusta, Georgia, U.S. – April 11, 2024 Jack Nicklaus and Tom Watson of the U.S. pose with Fred Ridley Chairperson of Augusta National Golf Club and South Africa’s Gary Player during the ceremonial tee off REUTERS/Eloisa Lopez
But can McIlroy win this again?
Winning back-to-back at Augusta National is a Herculean feat. It has eluded almost every title winner in the tournament’s history, especially the ones who won it multiple times. The Masters has been around since 1934, and in those 90 years, only three players have managed to win twice in a row. Greats like Arnold Palmer managed to win 4 green jackets over seven years, and most recently, Scottie Scheffler won two in three years. But none of them were able to repeat the feat consecutively.
Despite the difficulty, McIlroy remains confident. “I think winning a Masters makes it easier to win your second one,” McIlroy said.
He also described a newfound sense of freedom, adding, “It’s easier for me to make those swings and not worry about where it goes when I know that I can go to the Champions Locker Room and put my Green Jacket on and have a Coke Zero at the end of the day”.
Fred Couples also said before the tournament began that “Rory may never lose this thing again after last year”.
And seeing McIlroy’s poise through the volatility of the 2026 rounds, it seems that sentiment may hold true.
However, we can’t ignore that McIlroy is chasing something even bigger than a back-to-back title. He is playing to cement his name in an elite fraternity of just 18 players who have ever won multiple Masters. And beyond that, completing a successful defense would move McIlroy into a tie for 12th on the all-time major leaderboard with six titles, joining legends like Nick Faldo, Phil Mickelson, and Lee Trevino.
And with all heart and soul, McIlroy definitely deserves that.
