PITTSBURGH — The images from Augusta National on Sunday were nothing short of stirring, the palpable emotion when Rory McIlroy hugged his longtime caddie and best friend (Harry Diamond) and the relief felt when McIlroy dropped to his knees (and elbows) on the 18th green, a Masters champion at last.

And those were only photos from Ken Griffey ...Read more

Winning the Masters means choosing the menu for the champions dinner the following year. Ben Hogan came up with the idea in 1952, but not until 1986 did champions begin honoring their heritage by choosing traditional dishes from their home countries or regions.

Bernhard Langer, a West German in a green jacket, thought hard and chose ... Wiener ...Read more

PINEHURST, N.C. — Under different circumstances, Bryson DeChambeau might have been modeling a newly fitted green jacket at Pinehurst on Monday, basking in the glow of what would have been one of the best days of his life.

Instead, he had to settle for reliving the shot of his life, and what was unquestionably one of the best days of his life....Read more

AUGUSTA, Ga. — On a glorious Georgia spring afternoon, Charlie Brown kicked the football.

It was dicey at times. No one could have been blamed for fully expecting that, before the sun set on Augusta National Golf Club on Sunday, Rory McIlroy would do another cannonball into a pool of heartbreak. McIlroy said he wondered himself during the ...Read more

AUGUSTA, Ga. — Rory McIlroy checked a lot of boxes with his emotional victory at the Masters on Sunday.

First green jacket? Check.

Career Grand Slam? Check.

Vindication from his 1994 Masters meltdown? Check.

Payback for his collapse at the 2024 U.S. Open — and sweet revenge over Bryson DeChambeau? Double check.

But it wasn’t until he ...Read more

AUGUSTA, Ga. — Justin Rose.

Rory rose even higher.

Rory McIlroy finished a rollercoaster round Sunday by beating Rose in a sudden-death playoff — the first in the Masters since 2017 — becoming the sixth man in golf history to win a career grand slam.

With the two players tied at 11 under after 72 holes, it came down to a playoff on the...Read more

AUGUSTA, Ga. — The Masters has itself an epic showdown.

Rory versus Bryson.

PGA Tour versus LIV.

Guy who has flailed at Augusta National versus guy who looks like he’s figuring it out.

Tournament leader versus hunter.

And, apparently, no phone and Bridgerton versus phone and James Bond.

A delicious final-round matchup has been set for ...Read more

Rory McIlroy has won four major championships and seemingly blown a dozen.

He has been ranked No. 1 in the world for 271 weeks over nine different stints.

He became the European villain of the 2016 Ryder Cup at Hazeltine National for having the poor taste to mimic Patrick Reed.

If McIlroy wins the Masters on Sunday, he will tie Jack Nicklaus ...Read more

AUGUSTA, Ga. — Rory McIlroy is closer to making history, but another muscular obstacle has emerged that he must overcome to make it happen.

McIlroy shot his second consecutive 66 on Saturday, stands alone at 12-under 204 and takes a two-shot lead into the final round of the Masters.

But there waiting for him — and walking alongside him all...Read more

AUGUSTA, Ga. — Rory McIlroy will have a chance Sunday to put a stake in the heart of the specter that has dogged him since 2011 and finally slay his personal white whale.

McIlroy, just 22 in 2011, had a four-shot lead going into the final round when he shot an 80 and was an afterthought by the end of the day. Charl Schwartzel wore the green ...Read more

AUGUSTA, Ga. — What makes the Masters special was sitting directly in front of a black metal gate at 4:30 a.m. Saturday.

The sitter’s name was Ernie Rehnke, a retired surgeon from St. Petersburg, Fla. When I arrived at Augusta National Golf Club’s main public entrance at that dark hour, Rehnke had been there for an hour and a half. He had...Read more

AUGUSTA, Ga. — The stage is set for Rory’s Revenge at the Masters on Sunday.

Rory McIlroy, ranked No. 2 in the world, enters the final round at Augusta National the leader at 12 under and will complete the career Grand Slam if he secures victory.

The Irishman vaulted up the leaderboard by scoring a 66 on Saturday, a round that included two...Read more

AUGUSTA, Ga. — Funny how time works.

Twenty years seems so short.

And 1.8 seconds seems so long.

That's how long the golf ball that Tiger Woods hit teetered on the edge of the 16th hole at Augusta National in 2005 before tumbling into the cup — nearly two agonizing seconds — his chip-in the signature moment of his fourth Masters victory...Read more

AUGUSTA, Ga. — Justin Rose held onto the lead at the Masters, but much of the discussion Friday was focused on the roars created and the moves made by fast-charging Bryson DeChambeau and Rory McIlroy.

Rose shot a steady 1-under 71 to stand at 8-under 136 and will begin the third round with a one-stroke advantage over DeChambeau, who shot 68, ...Read more

AUGUSTA, Ga. — Jon Rahm squeaked into weekend play at the Masters.

The 2023 champion finished the tournament’s first two rounds at 2-over par, landing on the cut line to advance to Saturday and Sunday.

Some big-name contenders, former winners and feel-good hopefuls missed out.

Brooks Koepka, twice a runner-up here, is done after ending ...Read more

AUGUSTA — It’s starting to look more like a major champions showdown this weekend at the Masters.

Former U.S. Open champion and Olympic gold medalist Justin Rose, two-time and reigning U.S. Open champion Bryson DeChambeau, four-time major winner Rory McIlroy and defending Masters champion Scottie Scheffler lead an impressive leaderboard ...Read more

AUGUSTA, Ga. — This sports entity shows up every spring with a record of consistent success, contends for the championship but falters in the final stages — but it’s not the Braves.

This entity also is haunted by its staggering collapse on its sport’s biggest stage — but it’s not the Falcons.

This entity perpetually searches for ...Read more

AUGUSTA, Ga. — Cellphones are banned at the Masters. Food and drink prices are happily stuck in the 1970s — $1.50 for a pimento cheese sandwich — a charming holdover from yesteryear. And painted leaderboards are updated by hand.

Meanwhile, behind the scenes, it’s Jones (Bobby) meets Jetson (George). Drones whir over tee boxes. Fans all ...Read more

AUGUSTA, Ga. — Justin Rose has been in this position as the first-round leader of the Masters. But can he handle the situation better than he did the last time?

Rose opened the 2021 Masters with a career-best 65 to take the solo lead. He held the lead at the midway point after shooting 72, slipped into a tie for second place after a third-...Read more