The Masters: Rory McIlroy looks to Justin Rose 'blueprint' for major longevity after 'home' victory at Augusta National
Rory McIlroy claimed a one-shot victory over Scottie Scheffler to defend his title at The Masters; McIlroy discussed with Sky Sports his win, his hopes of more major success and how he can take inspiration from Justin Rose's longevity in the sport
Tuesday 14 April 2026 07:32, UK
Rory McIlroy has backed Justin Rose to find an elusive second major title and believes he can use his Ryder Cup teammate as a ‘blueprint’ to keep building on his own success.
McIlroy became just the fourth player in history to win back-to-back editions of The Masters, with a one-shot victory over Scottie Scheffler also seeing him match Sir Nick Faldo's tally of six major titles.
The world No 2's successful title defence came a year after he completed the career Grand Slam with a dramatic play-off victory over Rose, who has now had three runner-up finishes at The Masters without victory.
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Rose challenged again in this year's contest and briefly went two clear during another roller-coaster Sunday, where he carded back-to-back bogeys around Amen Corner and finished two strokes back in tied-third.
The Englishman said he will 'keep knocking on that door' despite another near-miss, his seventh top-three finish in a major and 17th top-10 since his 2013 US Open success, with McIlroy impressed by the 45-year-old continuing to keep contending.
"What he [Rose] is doing at his age is incredible and I think everyone would love to see him get another major, because I think he deserves it," McIlroy told Sky Sports.
"What Rose is doing is sort of the blueprint for me. I feel like I can look at him and see myself competing at the highest level when I'm that age, as well."
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McIlroy took three weeks away from the PGA Tour in the build-up to The Masters, despite having to withdraw from the Arnold Palmer Invitational due to injury and struggling to contend at The Players prior to that, instead using Augusta National as his 'home course' to prepare.
He took multiple scouting trips during that period, revealing in a mid-tournament press conference how he would often drop his daughter Poppy to school and travel back the same day after tackling Augusta National, with McIlroy pleased to see the preparation pay off.
"I took three weeks into this event to make sure that my body was right, to make sure my preparation was right," McIlroy added. "I'm not going to do that for every major, because I'm not able to, but I think I felt the most prepared coming into this event than I ever had.
"I played the golf course so much and I had such a comfortable feeling going here. Honestly, over the last few weeks, it has felt like my home golf course because I've been here so much. I think to see that preparation pay off is amazing."
'I wish I had made it easier!' - McIlroy enjoys 'incredible win'
The Northern Irishman was in full control of the tournament after building a six-shot halfway lead, the largest in tournament history, only to find himself three behind when he followed a third-round 73 with a slow start to his final day.
McIlroy responded by posting four birdies in a seven-hole stretch around the turn, leaving him with the luxury of being able to bogey the 72nd hole for a second successive year and still hold on for victory.
"I wish I had made it easier after Friday night but just incredible," McIlroy admitted. "I had to reset after Saturday night.
"Going back to what Harry [Diamond] said to me this time last year 'pal we would have taken this on Monday morning'. If somebody would have told me when I arrived to Augusta on Saturday afternoon that I would be tied for the lead going into the final round I would be like 'yeah absolutely I will take that'.
"I just had to remind myself of that. Yes, had I given away that cushion I built up, absolutely (disappointed). But Cam [Young] played amazing, Scottie [Scheffler] played amazing. I shot a 73, I didn't shoot a 75 or 76 and put myself out of it.
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"I could have, but I hung in there, I grinded, I shot something that was at least respectable to give myself a chance going into Sunday. It wasn't ideal, but it wasn't disastrous.
"We're all nitpickers and I can nitpick away at so many things I could have done better, but it's so nice to know that - even when I don't have my best - that I'm still able to get the job done."
'I can do them all!' - More targets to come from McIlroy?
McIlroy's latest win puts him halfway towards a second Grand Slam - something only ever achieved by Jack Nicklaus and Tiger Woods, puts him tied-12th in the all-time list of major winners and more chances to build on his already impressive career.
"For me, it's the majors, it's Ryder Cups and it's the biggest tournaments in the world - that's what keeps me going and that's what's going to keep going from 36 to when I'm 45 for example," McIlroy insisted.
He then said: "I have the opportunity to do them all, which is amazing. I've won two Masters and two PGA Championships and I've got a chance to win two US Opens and two Opens.
"I said last year, after the Grand Slam, that everything else is sort of a cherry on top. Last year, after getting over that hurdle, I just feel like it makes the next few years of my career have potential and it's an amazing place to be."
Can McIlroy enjoy more major success in 2026? Watch the PGA Championship (May 14-17), US Open (June 18-21) and The Open (July 16-19) all exclusively live on Sky Sports. Get Sky Sports or stream with no contract.
