AUGUSTA, Georgia (AP) -- Rory McIlroy joined more elite company Sunday at the Masters when he pulled away with a pair of birdies around Amen Corner and, as usual, saved a little drama for the end before taking his place in Augusta National history as only the fourth back-to-back champion.
In a final round where three players had a two-shot lead, McIlroy seized control for good with a bold shot over Rae's Creek to land in the green for a birdie on the par-3 12th. Then he blistered a 350-yard drive on the par-5 13th that set up another birdie to move three shots ahead.
There were a few dicey moments, including a shot over the par-3 16th green that required him to use the slope to get in close for par, having to get up-and-down for par on the 17th and a wild drive on the 18th that wound up closer to the 10th fairway.
He tapped in for bogey and a 1-under 71 for a one-shot victory over Scottie Scheffler.
A year ago, his playoff victory over Justin Rose made McIlroy only the sixth player with the career Grand Slam. With another green jacket, McIlroy joined Tiger Woods, Nick Faldo and Jack Nicklaus as the only repeat winners of the Masters.
"I just can't believe I waited 17 years to get one green jacket, and I get two in a row," McIlroy said. "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."
McIlroy stood tall when he tapped in the final putt to finish at 12-under 276. There was no relief like last year of going 17 years trying to win the Masters. This was pure joy. And for the first time since 2002 when Woods went back-to-back, it was up to the Augusta National chairman, Fred Ridley, to help him into the green jacket.
"It still fits, which is nice," McIlroy said at the trophy presentation.
It was more heartache for Rose, and frustration for the others who had a chance.
Rose had a two-shot lead that evaporated around Amen Corner with two bogeys and a three-putt par. He couldn't make up enough ground the rest of the way and had to settle for a third close call at the Masters.
Cameron Young lost his two-shot lead much earlier with a long three-putt bogey on the par-3 sixth and taking bogey on the next hole when he hit wedge from the fairway into a bunker. One shot behind going to the back nine, Young closed with nine straight pars.
As for Scheffler, the world's No. 1 player was in position to shatter the Masters record with the largest 36-hole comeback in history. He was 12 behind going into the weekend. He was two shots behind as he approached the turn. But he ran off 11 straight pars -- that wasn't going to cut it during a final round with accessible pins to create excitement.
Scheffler had to settle for his third runner-up finish in the majors to go along with four titles. His 65-68 weekend made him the first player since 1942 to go bogey-free on the weekend at Augusta.
"I put up a good fight in order to give myself a chance," Scheffler said.
McIlroy’s sixth major puts him in a group that includes Faldo. One more and he can tie Harry Vardon for the most majors by a European.
McIlroy was so ecstatic a year ago that he asked the media when it was over, "What are we going to talk about next year?" Now the topic is easy. No one has ever won three in a row.
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