Masters champion Rory McIlroy celebrates historic repeat win with touching tribute to his family
Two-time Masters champion Rory McIlroy walked off the 18th hole at Augusta National Golf Club on Sunday after securing a rare repeat victory, immediately embracing his daughter, wife and parents to celebrate the momentous occasion.
The Northern Irish golf legend was seen gesturing to his 5-year-old daughter Poppy to come under the ropes following his win, giving her a big hug before sharing a kiss with his wife Erica and hugging his parents Rosie and Gerry McIlroy.
After confirming his final score -- 12 under par, one shot better than his 2025 Masters victory -- McIlroy's family was all smiles as they watched Augusta National Golf Club and Masters Tournament Chairman Fred Ridley put the green jacket back on him.
In his speech during the trophy ceremony, McIlroy dedicated a passionate thank you to his family sitting in the front row.
"This is the hard part," he began while clearing his throat and becoming choked up. "First and foremost, my wife and daughter, Erica and Poppy, they have to put up with me at home, and trust me sometimes that's a tough thing to do. But they have been my biggest supporters."
He said the Masters "has turned into Poppy's favorite week of the year."
"I don't know [if] it's because of the Par 3 tournament or it's the all-you-can-eat ice cream in the player services building," he joked.
Turning his attention to his parents, he continued, "My mom and dad, they weren't here last year to celebrate with us, and surprisingly, I had to convince them to come this year, because they thought that the reason that I won was because they weren't here. So I'm glad that we proved that wrong."
McIlroy then said he owes "everything" to his mother and father, adding, "You're the most wonderful parents, and if I can be half the parent to Poppy that you were to me, then I know I've done a good job. Thank you."
Rosie McIlroy was spotted in the crowd earlier in the day with a unique accessory to show support for her son, a handbag made with the newspaper headlines of Rory McIlroy's first Masters win last year.
Rory McIlroy cemented his place in history on Sunday, at the 90th Masters Tournament, becoming only the fourth player ever to win in consecutive years and successfully defend his title.
With his victory, he joins fellow back-to-back Masters Tournament winners Jack Nicklaus, Nick Faldo and Tiger Woods.
McIlroy is also the fourth player in 40 years to hold a lead or co-lead after each round of the Masters, according to ESPN Research.
"In golf, you really never know, and we've seen a lot, especially at Augusta on the back nine, so much can happen," Mercedes-Benz ambassador and fellow two-time Masters champion Bernhard Langer told ABC News ahead of McIlroy's win. "An elite four-shot lead can dissipate in two holes."
Langer rightly predicted an exciting weekend of golf, with McIlroy as the favorite, and related to maintaining the lead two days out before his own second Masters win in 1993.
McIlroy began the third round with a historic six-stroke lead, the largest of any player going into the weekend at Augusta, only to let Cameron Young sneak in and tie things up at the end of the Saturday. McIlroy notched two pivotal birdies on holes 12 and 13 on Sunday and went on to win the tournament by one stroke.
