Masters 2026: Results, Winner & Recap

Six shots clear after 36 holes. Tied after 54. One shot clear when it mattered. Rory McIlroy made the Masters 2026 results look closer than anyone expected on Friday night, then closed with a 71 on Sunday to win at 12-under 276 at Augusta National Golf Club. Scottie Scheffler finished alone in second at 11-under, one back.

McIlroy became the fourth player to win back-to-back green jackets, joining Jack Nicklaus, Nick Faldo and Tiger Woods. Woods, in 2001 and 2002, was the last to do it. It was McIlroy's sixth major.

This article was first published as a preview before the tournament and was rewritten as a results recap on October 7, 2026.

For how McIlroy's week fits the rest of the year, see our 2026 majors review.

Masters 2026 Results: Final Leaderboard

The tournament ran Thursday, April 9 to Sunday, April 12 on a par 72 course measuring 7,565 yards. The top of the final leaderboard:

How McIlroy Won

Rounds of 67 and 65 put McIlroy at 12-under after two days and six shots clear of the field. No one had ever led the Masters by more at the halfway point.

Saturday took it all back. McIlroy shot 73, Cameron Young shot 65, and the pair went into the final round tied at 11-under.

Sunday started badly. A birdie from the bunker at the 3rd was followed by a three-putt double bogey from inside six feet at the 4th, then a bogey at the 6th. Birdies at 7 and 8 steadied him. Justin Rose drew level at 11-under through eight holes.

Amen Corner decided it. McIlroy hit a 9-iron over Rae's Creek to seven feet at the 12th and made the putt, then birdied the 13th for back-to-back birdies. He went to the 18th tee two shots clear, found trouble off the tee and made bogey. One shot was enough.

Notable Finishes

Scheffler did everything he could. He shot 65 and 68 over the weekend without a bogey, which CBS reported was the first bogey-free weekend at Augusta since 1942. He started Sunday four behind and finished one behind.

Rose, at 45, was chasing the chance to become the second-oldest Masters champion behind Nicklaus. He finished in a four-way tie for third with Hatton, Henley and Young. Hatton's closing 66 was the best round among the leaders. Young, the co-leader at the start of the day, closed with 73.

Morikawa and Schauffele both finished inside the top 10. Jordan Spieth, Hideki Matsuyama, Brooks Koepka and Patrick Cantlay shared 12th at 5-under. None of Bryson DeChambeau, Jon Rahm, Ludvig Åberg or Dustin Johnson finished inside the top 15.

The field was 91 players. The cut fell at 4-over 148, with 54 players making it. Six amateurs teed it up and none made the weekend, so no Silver Cup was awarded. Ethan Fang and Jackson Herrington were the leading amateurs at 8-over 152.

Masters 2026 Prize Money

The purse was $22.5 million. McIlroy took $4.5 million. Scheffler earned $2.43 million for second. For the full breakdown, see our Masters 2026 prize money guide.

Augusta National Golf Club: Course Guide

Augusta National was founded by Bobby Jones and Clifford Roberts, and the course was laid out by Jones and Alister MacKenzie on the site of a former nursery, which is why each hole is named after a tree or shrub. In 2026 it played to par 72 and 7,565 yards.

Front Nine Highlights

• Hole 1 - Tea Olive (par 4, 445 yards) - A demanding opening hole with a narrow landing area and an elevated green
• Hole 3 - Flowering Peach (par 4, 350 yards) - A short par 4 with one of the most severely sloped greens on the course
• Hole 4 - Flowering Crab Apple (par 3, 240 yards) - One of the toughest par 3s in major championship golf. McIlroy made his double bogey here on Sunday

Amen Corner

The most famous stretch in golf - holes 11, 12 and 13 - is known as Amen Corner. This is where Masters tournaments are won and lost, and 2026 was no exception:

• Hole 11 - White Dogwood (par 4, 520 yards) - A long par 4 with water guarding the left side of the green
• Hole 12 - Golden Bell (par 3, 155 yards) - The shortest hole on the course, but arguably the most dangerous. A shallow green fronted by Rae's Creek, with swirling winds that make club selection agonising
• Hole 13 - Azalea (par 5, 545 yards) - A reachable par 5 for long hitters, but Rae's Creek in front of the green punishes any miscalculation

Back Nine Drama

The back nine at Augusta is where the magic happens. Holes 15 and 16 offer birdie opportunities, while the closing stretch of 17 and 18 demands precision under pressure. McIlroy parred 14 through 17 on Sunday and could afford his bogey at the last.

Masters History and Records

McIlroy's repeat put him in a short list. Nicklaus, Faldo and Woods (2001 and 2002) are the only other players to defend the green jacket.

• Lowest 72-hole score: 268 (-20), set by Dustin Johnson in 2020
• Oldest winner: Jack Nicklaus, who was 46 when he won in 1986
• Largest 36-hole lead: six shots, set by McIlroy in 2026

GolfMode is being built to follow every shot of the majors live. It is not out yet; join the waitlist to hear when it launches.

For a complete understanding of the tour these players compete on year-round, see our PGA Tour guide. Masters invitations are partly tied to the Official World Golf Ranking.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who won The Masters 2026?

Rory McIlroy won at 12-under 276, one shot ahead of Scottie Scheffler. It was his second straight green jacket and his sixth major.

When was The Masters 2026?

It was played Thursday, April 9 through Sunday, April 12 at Augusta National Golf Club. The cut after Round 2 was the top 50 and ties; it fell at 4-over 148.

How can I get tickets to The Masters?

Through Augusta National itself. Check masters.com for the current ticket application process. Demand far exceeds supply.

Who is the defending Masters champion?

McIlroy. He won in 2025 and defended successfully in 2026, so he returns to Augusta in 2027 as the defending champion again.

Why is The Masters always at Augusta National?

Unlike the other three majors, which rotate between courses, The Masters is always played at Augusta National. The 2026 edition was the 90th Masters.

What was the prize money at The Masters 2026?

The purse was $22.5 million. McIlroy won $4.5 million and Scheffler $2.43 million for second. Full breakdown in our Masters 2026 prize money guide.

Do LIV Golf players compete at The Masters?

Yes. The Masters sets its own invitation criteria, separate from any tour, so players qualify through categories such as past champion status, recent major wins or world ranking regardless of where they play week to week.

How many players were in The Masters 2026 field?

91 players started the 2026 Masters, including six amateurs. 54 made the cut.