Rory McIlroy, The Last Man Standing

👋 Hey Patrons,

“It is better to travel hopefully than to arrive,” said the late Robert Louis Stevenson. Rory McIlroy might have thought of this line (or, he might not have), but he definitely embodied the spirit on Sunday. And he deserves a lot of respect for it.

Let’s get started…

Before we start with today’s edition, let's kick things off with the stories that've been making waves.

Golf Viewers Slam CBS for On-Air Scottie Scheffler Blunder ↗

Jon Rahm Defends Sergio Garcia After Masters Meltdown ↗

Here’s How Much Rory McIlroy Won for Winning the Masters ↗

With its pockmarked face, like a map of old scars, and cruel smirk, Augusta National has almost always tried its best to bring pros to their knees. But not in the case of Rory McIlroy, who finished the final round with 1-under 71 for his second Masters win.

Of course, that makes him just the fourth golfer in history to defend his Masters title successfully. That also brings his total major wins to six. But you could say it hardly mattered to the guy. The only person who mattered was his 6-year-old daughter, whom he hugged close to his chest—watch the heartwarming moment here.

But it almost didn’t happen, and the credit goes to his worthy competitors.

Cameron Young (-10/T3) and Rory kicked off the round tied at the top. Young's birdie putt on the 2nd snagged him the solo spotlight briefly, till Rory reeled him back in with a birdie of his own on the 3rd. Rory’s double bogey on the 4th handed Young a two-shot cushion. Meanwhile, Justin Rose (-10/T3) clawed back to get within two shots.

Of course, luck ran out midway for most, including Rose. His third straight birdie stretched the lead to two. By the 12th, a botched chip squandered it to one stroke, tossing him into the 10-under scrum. That handed Rory the solo front seat for the first time in ages. He didn’t let go of it.

By the 12th, he extended the lead to two. For a moment, it seemed safe, then Scottie Scheffler (-5/2nd) mounted a late afternoon charge with back-to-back birdies on the 15th and 16th. That put him two shots behind Rory. But a birdie on the 13th put Rory three shots clear with five to play. Scottie could only play catch-up, finishing solo second.

After Scottie left for the clubhouse, only Young was left to challenge Rory. But whatever chance Young had was gone by the lip-out on the 16th. Even his par on the 18th didn’t help him, with Rory registering a win by just one shot.

There’s plenty to be said of this Sunday, and we’ll be back with our special edition tomorrow morning, but Rory has earned every bit of it.

Luck of the Irish, indeed.

The Masters always brings a certain feeling. Early tee times, Sunday nerves, and the kind of golf that stays with you long after the final putt drops. We pulled together a few shop favorites that carry that same spirit into everyday.

• Sunday Charge Tee: A clean, easy-wearing tee inspired by the final-round feeling.

• Birdie Bourbon Glass: Made for post-round pours and tournament watch parties.

• Fanny Bag: Your go-anywhere essential for on-course snacks, small accessories, or everyday carry.

• Scratch Golfer Towel: A course-day staple with a nod to the players we all aspire to be.

A few thoughtful pieces for golf days, watch parties, and everything in between.

Swag: In our last edition, we asked you if Jordan Spieth is the most entertaining golfer right now. A majority of you said yes. And talk about walking the walk, Spieth proved you right. On the 13th, his second shot cratered into the greenside bunker. Knee deep in sand, he made a dreamy hole out. BUT… Guess how he celebrated? You rarely see Spieth so happy and joyous these days, so enjoy the moment below.

Flop: Justin Rose was two shots clear of everyone when the disaster struck. On the 12th, Rose’s shot veered away from the green, but his second was somehow worse. It was an attempted chip-in that settled well short of the green. Look closely in this video—can you point out the mistake here?

Hilarious: Tyrrell Hatton has a character you couldn’t script even if you tried. Remember when he said he won’t lose sleep if people didn’t like him? But how can you not like him? At 5'9'' (1.75 meters), the firecracker can make every round entertaining by his sheer presence. Check what he did when an uphill green blocked his view.

Disaster: Haotong Li is a disaster waiting to happen. On the 13th, his second shot landed in the jungle. He decided to play it anyway and stood between thick bushes to hit his shot. But you could hardly see him. We challenge you now: have you ever seen a golfer go this deep into Augusta’s wilderness?

Painful: Kristoffer Reitan was ready to follow in Shane Lowry’s footsteps with an ace on the 16th. And it did seem like that’d happen as his tee shot flew and landed on the green. But it bounced once before hitting the flagstick and rolling away. Watch the painful moment here.

Today’s Poll Result: 51.93% of you said Jordan Spieth is the most entertaining golfer right now.

Everyone has been celebrating 40 years of Jack Nicklaus’s 1986 Masters victory. But lost in the conversation is the fact that exactly sixty years ago, a 26-year-old starry-eyed Jack Nicklaus won his first back-to-back Masters. It was also the first time anyone had done that, and that forced the Augusta National to fix its cat-herding conundrum: who drapes the Green Jacket on the shoulders of the repeat winner?

But no one had an answer back then, and the officials needed a quick solution. So, after thinking long and hard, Masters co-founder Bobby Jones proposed that Jack drape the Jacket on himself. That rule has since changed, as you can find out here. It was six decades ago, but the historic moment is hardly privy to the passing time. This rare grainy black-and-white clip of Jack doing the honors is a must-watch.

That Sunday, Jack Nicklaus, Gay Brewer, and Tommy Jacobs all wrapped 72 holes tied at even-par 288. The trio teed off in an 18-hole Monday playoff, where Nicklaus fired a 70 to claim victory. Jacobs carded 72; Brewer stumbled to 78.

In the playoff, Nicklaus and Jacobs were knotted at the turn, but Jacobs slipped with a bogey on No. 10 while Nicklaus birdied the 11th. From there, Nicklaus forged ahead by two strokes all the way to the finish.

Even today, if you wanted to fingertip-trace those fractured memories of yesteryear and gift Jack something in return for them all, it'd be tough to bridge the space between those stars.

Thank you for reading this edition of Essentially Golf.

We’re expanding our coverage during the Masters. Expect more frequent updates from Augusta National delivered to your inbox daily.

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