Rory McIlroy became only the fourth player to retain his Masters title, and it was not long until US President Donald Trump sent him a message
Rory McIlroy clinched his second successive Masters title at Augusta on Sunday(Image: GETTY)
Donald Trump led the tributes to Rory McIlroy following his second Masters title. Having begun the day sharing the lead with Cam Young, McIlroy carded a one-under 71 to successfully defend his Masters crown with a 12-under final score.
Scottie Scheffler hit his stride and surged up the leaderboard during a blistering round, yet the Northern Irishman held firm. The last player to successfully defend their title and claim back-to-back Masters crowns was Tiger Woods, who achieved the feat by triumphing in 2001 and 2002.
McIlroy has now joined an extraordinarily exclusive club as one of only four golfers in history to successfully defend their title at Augusta National, alongside Jack Nicklaus (1965-66), Nick Faldo (1989-90), and Woods. He is now a six-time major champion and a two-time Masters winner, consigning so many years of Augusta heartbreak to the past.
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Amongst the many messages of support, President Trump was among those heaping praise on the 36-year-old. He said: “Congratulations to Rory McIlroy on another Great Championship, The Masters!
“He performed tremendously under intense pressure, something which few people would be able to even think about doing. With each year, Rory is becoming more and more a LEGEND! I look forward to watching him compete in two weeks at Doral.
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“The quality of Professional Golfers today has become extraordinary, each and every one of them. They should all be proud of the way they played at The Masters this weekend! President DONALD J. TRUMP.”
The PGA Tour will make its return to Trump National Doral’s Blue Monster course for the 2026 Cadillac Championship, set to take place from April 29 to May 3.
The tournament will signal the comeback of elite PGA golf to the facility, which played host to PGA Tour competitions for more than five decades until 2016.
Before he sets his sights on future victories and PGA Tour honours, McIlroy will savour his latest Masters triumph. His success last year made McIlroy a career grand slam winner, and now he stands among the most successful champions in Masters history.
“I just can’t believe I waited 17 years to get one green jacket, and I get two in a row,” McIlroy told Fred Ridley in Butler Cabin. “It’s just sort of the way- I don’t know. I think all of my perseverance at this golf tournament over the years has really started to pay off.
“It was a tough weekend. I did the bulk of my work on Thursday and Friday. But just so, so happy to hang in there and get the job done.”
It remains uncertain whether McIlroy will compete at the RBC Heritage next week, but Trump will undoubtedly hope the Northern Irishman steps onto the first tee of the Miami Championship later this month.
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