Rory McIlroy Falls Short At Masters, Extends Major Drought

Rory McIlroy Falls Short At Masters, Extends Major Drought...

Rory McIlroy's quest to complete the career Grand Slam at the 2026 Masters ended Sunday with a disappointing final-round 74, leaving him six shots behind the winner. The 36-year-old Northern Irishman has now gone 12 years without winning a major championship, a drought that continues to haunt one of golf's most talented players.

The topic is trending today as golf fans express sympathy and frustration over McIlroy's latest near-miss at Augusta National. Social media is flooded with reactions to his Sunday collapse, which included three bogeys in his first seven holes to effectively end his chances.

McIlroy entered the final round just two shots off the lead but couldn't mount a charge on the back nine. "I just didn't have my best stuff when I needed it most," McIlroy told reporters after his round. "Augusta gets in your head, and today it won that battle."

The four-time major winner has now finished top-10 at the Masters eight times without claiming the green jacket. His closest call came in 2022 when he finished second to Scottie Scheffler. This year's tournament was won by rising star Tom Kim, who held off a charging Tiger Woods for his first major victory.

Golf analysts note that McIlroy's driving accuracy (58.9% for the week) and putting struggles (ranked 42nd in strokes gained) doomed his chances. The performance extends his winless streak in majors since the 2014 PGA Championship, the longest drought of his professional career.

McIlroy said he'll take a few weeks off before preparing for the PGA Championship at Aronimink in May. "The game's there," he insisted. "I just need to put four rounds together at the right time." Meanwhile, betting markets have already installed him as the 12-1 favorite for next year's Masters.