AUGUSTA, Ga. — Among the many traditions of the Masters is the previous year’s winner putting the green jacket on the newest champion. But what if the newest champion is also the previous champion?
In other words, now that Rory McIlroy has won his second straight Masters, who puts the jacket on him?
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That distinction would go to the chairman of Augusta National, Fred Ridley.
The scenario has happened only three times in the previous 89 editions of the Masters: Jack Nicklaus (1965-66), Nick Faldo (1989-90) and Tiger Woods (2001-02).
Tiger Woods gets his second consecutive green jacket from Augusta National chairman Hootie Johnson in 2002. (Photo by Roberto SCHMIDT / AFP via Getty Images)
(ROBERTO SCHMIDT via Getty Images)
McIlroy, of course, spent nearly two decades trying to win this tournament before finally breaking through last year. The win not only ended his cursed history at the event, but completed his career Grand Slam.
He came into this year’s tournament as a bit of a question mark, considering he hadn’t played in the weeks leading into the tournament as he dealt with an injured back. Scottie Scheffler, not McIlroy, entered as the favorite.
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But that injury was nowhere to be found this week at Augusta National, as McIlroy was at or near the top of the leaderboard from Thursday straight on through Sunday evening when his final putt dropped.
Now, not only will he host the Champions Dinner again next year, he will attempt to do something no player has ever done at Augusta National — win three straight.