Rory McIlroy caught out by Masters rule change immediately after winning Green Jacket | Golf | Sport

Rory McIlroy admitted that a rule change at the Masters caught him out shortly after he defended his title. The man from Northern Ireland made history by winning golf’s most prestigious tournament for the second year in a row. He secured a one-shot victory over runner-up Scottie Scheffler to claim the £3.5million jackpot and retain the prestigious Green Jacket.

The result saw McIlroy join Tiger Woods, Nick Faldo and Jack Nicklaus in the exclusive club of repeat champions at Augusta National. Usually, the Masters winner is presented with their Green Jacket by the outgoing champion at the winner’s ceremony. However, given that McIlroy went back-to-back, he was left in an unusual situation.

Back in 1966, when Nicklaus became the first man to defend his Masters title, there was nobody to stand behind him and no clear precedent. As a result, he decided to put the Green Jacket on himself.

McIlroy had been vocal about wanting to do the same, but he was prevented by a recent rule change. Now, the Augusta chairman is required to deputise in the absence of a previous champion.

Fred Ridley did the honours for McIlroy, who later admitted that he was caught short by not being able to put the jacket on himself.

“It still fits, which is nice,” said the 36-year-old. “My parting message last year was: ‘I can’t wait to come back next year and put the Green Jacket on myself’.

“I wasn’t quite correct, because the chairman did it, but I did want to come back here and prove last year wasn’t a fluke.”

Multiple champions can only get one Green Jacket, meaning McIlroy didn’t receive a second for winning the Masters twice. He will get to keep it for 12 months before handing it back to the clubhouse at next year’s tournament, unless he prevails once again.

“It took me 10 years to win my fifth major, and then my sixth one’s come pretty soon after it,” he said. “I’m not putting a number on it but I certainly don’t want to stop here.”

Reflecting on the emotions of his latest triumph, he added: “When the ball trickled by and I marked it there from two inches or whatever [at the last], I just looked at the back of the green because I saw my mum and dad and Erica [his wife] and Poppy [his daughter].

“I was just like: ‘I can’t believe I’ve just done it again’. Not as emotional [as last year], but just, wow, it’s amazing. I can’t believe I did it again.”