Rory McIlroy Wins Back-To-Back Masters, Beats Scottie Scheffler By One Shot

Rory McIlroy secured his second consecutive Masters title at Augusta National on Sunday, winning by one shot over world No. 1 Scottie Scheffler and earning the coveted Green Jacket.

“Rory McIlroy will be forced to hand over a substantial portion of his Masters prize money after his triumph at Augusta National”

Daily Express

The Mirror US described how McIlroy “made history at Augusta National last Sunday, becoming only the fourth golfer ever to win back-to-back Masters titles,” and it said the Northern Irishman’s $4.5 million prize check was “always going to be subject to a rather significant deduction.”

Daily Express

The Irish News likewise said McIlroy “retained his crown with a one-shot success over World number one Scottie Scheffler,” and it placed the winner’s age at 36.

The Daily Express reported that the 36-year-old “successfully defended his title on Sunday,” finishing “one stroke ahead of Scottie Scheffler,” while talkSPORT said the win came as McIlroy “held off a late charge from Scottie Scheffler.”

Multiple outlets also tied the victory to McIlroy’s place in Masters history, with The Mirror US saying his one-shot win gave him a spot “alongside Jack Nicklaus, Nick Faldo and Tiger Woods,” and Daily Express echoing that he joined “the elite company of Jack Nicklaus, Nick Faldo and Tiger Woods.”

The Palm Beach Post added a scoring detail, saying McIlroy shot “71 in the final round for a total of 12-under,” and it described the purse as “the largest in tournament history.”

The Masters purse for 2026 was reported as $22.5 million, with $4.5 million reserved for the champion, and outlets repeatedly emphasized the scale of the winner’s check.

The Mirror US said “The Masters offered a record $22.5 million purse in 2026, up from $21 million the previous year, with $4.5 million going to the champion,” while The Irish News put the total at “$22.5m (£16.7m)” and said the winner pocketed “$4.5m (£3.3m).”

Daily Mail

The Independent described the same structure, saying “The total prize purse for the 2026 Masters increased to $22.5m (£16.7m), up from $21m (£15.6m) the previous year,” and it stated that “As the winner, McIlroy received $4.5m (£3.3m).”

For runner-up and top finishers, talkSPORT listed Scheffler’s payout as “$2.43m,” and it said the tied third-place group of Tyrrell Hatton, Russell Henley, Justin Rose and Cameron Young each took “$1.08m each.”

The Irish News similarly said “Runner-up Scheffler walked away with $2.43m (£1.81m) while third and fourth also claimed more than a million dollars,” and it gave third as “$1.53m (£1.14m)” and fourth as “$1.08m (£802,940).”

The Palm Beach Post provided the most granular breakdown, saying “Professional golfers who miss the cut at the Masters are paid $25,000 each,” and it also stated that “Amateurs who play in the Masters Tournament do not receive monetary prizes.”

While McIlroy’s Masters win delivered a $4.5 million winner’s cheque, multiple outlets focused on the tax impact of earning in the United States and specifically in Georgia.

“Adam Glanzman AUGUSTA, Ga”

Golf Digest

The Mirror US said analysis by AskGamblers “has revealed that McIlroy is set to lose almost $1.9 million of his 2026 winnings due to US tax regulations,” and it described a “combined tax rate of 41.99 percent in 2026.”

It then calculated that applying the rate to the $4.5 million “produces a tax bill of $1,898,550,” and it added that “All golfers competing at the Masters are subject to a combined tax rate of 41.99 percent in 2026.”

Daily Express and The Mirror (UK tabloid) both quoted accounting firm Band’s Jon Elphick on how residency and event location affect taxation, with Daily Express saying Elphick explained that “The Masters takes place at Augusta National Golf Club in the US state of Georgia.”

Daily Express also stated that “The highest rate of federal tax is charged at 37 per cent, whilst state income tax in Georgia is currently charged at 4.99 per cent,” producing “a total tax rate of 41.99 per cent.”

The Mirror (UK tabloid) similarly said the same total tax rate “will be applied in the US on the Masters winnings, and so US tax of up to $1,511,640 (£1,127,040) would be payable by the winner.”

Beyond McIlroy’s own win, the sources described how the Masters payouts and standings shifted dramatically, including examples of players who lost money after poor final rounds.

Golf Monthly reported that Shane Lowry “Quietly Posted The Joint-Worst Final Round At The Masters To Lose Over $900,000 In Prize Money,” and it said Lowry “recorded an equally bad score on Sunday” with “His final round of 80,” dropping “from fourth all the way down to T30 with a score of -1 for the week.”

talkSPORT

It quantified the swing by saying Lowry “was in line for $1,080,000 had he remained in fourth place, but his final Masters payout was just $146,250,” and it described the difference as “$933,750 less than he was tracking for.”

talkSPORT, meanwhile, emphasized McIlroy’s record-setting career earnings at Augusta, stating “He's now pocketed $13.04m across 18 career appearances at Augusta,” and it said McIlroy “vaulted past both Woods and Phil Mickelson in career winnings at Augusta.”

Golf Digest also framed the milestone as an “all-time Augusta money milestone,” saying McIlroy “is now the leader in all-time earnings at Augusta National having claimed $13.04 million in prize money payouts,” and it added that “he’s now jumped past both Phil MIckleson and Tiger Woods.”

The Palm Beach Post tied the win to the final-round score, saying McIlroy shot “71” and finished “12-under,” while talkSPORT described the closing sequence as McIlroy “banked the $4.5million prize” after a “two-putt bogey on the 18th green.”

The coverage of McIlroy’s Masters win and its financial aftermath varied in tone and emphasis, even when the underlying numbers were consistent.

“Back-to-back Masters titles have proved lucrative for Rory McIlroy”

talkSPORT

The Mirror US leaned into the tax angle immediately, saying the $4.5 million prize check “was always going to be subject to a rather significant deduction,” and it foregrounded the AskGamblers estimate that McIlroy would “lose almost $1.9 million” due to “US tax regulations.”

The Independent

The Irish News, by contrast, centered the achievement and celebration, describing McIlroy as a “Holywood golfer” and focusing on the fact that he “completed the career grand slam in 2025” before retaining the title on Sunday.

The Independent framed the story as a question of earnings, with the page titled “How much did Rory McIlroy win at the Masters 2026?” and it stated that “Rory McIlroy secured his second consecutive Masters title” while noting the purse increase from $21m to $22.5m.

Daily Express and The Mirror (UK tabloid) both used Jon Elphick’s tax explanation to build a narrative about how “The tax position of an international sports person largely depends on where they are resident,” and they repeatedly returned to the Georgia tax rate of “4.99 per cent” and the federal rate of “37 per cent.”

talkSPORT and Golf Digest emphasized records and career earnings, with talkSPORT saying McIlroy “vaulted past both Woods and Phil Mickelson” and Golf Digest describing him as the “leader in all-time earnings at Augusta National.”