The four golfers that have won back-to-back Masters titles

Rory McIlroy joined illustrious company at Augusta National on Sunday with a historic victory that saw him become just the fourth player to win the Masters Tournament in back-to-back years.

Joining Jack Nicklaus (1965 & 1996), Sir Nick Faldo (1989 & 1990) and Tiger Woods (2001 & 2002), McIlroy claimed a one shot win over Scottie Scheffler to claim his sixth Major Championship title – a year after completing the career Grand Slam.

Here, we take a look at the four times players won in consecutive years at Augusta National.

Jack Nicklaus (1965 & 1966)

As the man who holds the men’s all-time Major record with a tally of 18 titles, including six at Augusta, it should come as no surprise that he was also the first to win the Masters twice in a row.

Already a Masters winner when he arrived as a 25-year-old in 1965, Nicklaus set a tournament record during a commanding victory that at the halfway stage had all three of the Big Three (Nicklaus, Arnold Palmer and Gary Player) at the top of the leaderboard. A then course record 64 on Saturday helped him to the 54-hole lead, which he converted into a nine-stroke victory over Palmer and Player to claim a second Masters with a record-winning score of 17-under-par.

The following year, under difficult circumstances, Nicklaus became the first man to win twice in a row after prevailing in a play-off over Tommy Jacobs and Gay Brewer, earning the fifth Major of his career.

His close friend Bob and his wife Linda were tragically killed in a plane crash on the eve of the tournament, and he had to be convinced to play. He incredibly opened up with a 68 to lead by three, and after a Friday 76 and a third-round 72, he found himself tied at the top. One more round of 72 was enough to play his way into the 18-hole aggregate play-off on Monday, where he won by two shots to make history.

Sir Nick Faldo (1989 & 1990)

Sir Nick Faldo became the second player to follow in Nicklaus footsteps as he completed the Masters double in 1989 and 1990 and became the first English winner of the tournament.

Faldo won the first of three Masters titles and his second Major victory in a play-off against American Scott Hoch.

Having held a share of the 36-hole lead, Faldo struggled to a 77 on Saturday and began the final round five shots back.

An exciting final round saw six different players top the leaderboard throughout the day, but it was Hoch who missed a chance in regulation to win the title outright as Ben Crenshaw and Greg Norman narrowly missed out on a spot in the play-off.

Having shared pars at the first play-off hole (the tenth) Faldo came out on top when the pair went down the 11th, making a long birdie putt to win.

A year later, Faldo became just the second player to win back-to-back, and first to do it in two consecutive play-offs.

For the second year in a row, Faldo’s moment of victory happened on the 11th green and the second play-off hole, making a par Raymond Floyd was unable to match.

Tiger Woods (2001 & 2002)

Tiger Woods, who had already made history with his 1997 win at the Masters, claimed his second Green Jacket and sixth Major Championship title with a two-stroke victory over David Duval in 2001.

It was a win that earned him the 'Tiger Slam', where he held all four professional men's Major championships at the same time, adding the 2001 Masters to the 2000 U.S. Open, Open Championship and US PGA Championship.

With a one shot lead heading into the final day, Woods maintained control, only briefly caught by Duval at the 15th hole before his fellow American handed the shot straight back a hole later. Needing only a par at the last, Woods instead made a birdie to win a second Green Jacket.

In 2002, Woods returned in search of more success. Having been within reach of the leaders over the first 36 holes, Woods charged into a share of the lead alongside Retief Goosen with a third-round 66, and once again closed out in composed fashion.

With Goosen faltering on the final day, Woods claimed his seventh Major title with a three-shot victory, becoming the third man to win in back-to-back years.

Rory McIlroy (2025 & 2026)

Rory McIlroy became the latest man to join this impressive list after following his emotional first win around Augusta in 2025 with a successful defence in 2026.

The Northern Irishman completed the Grand Slam of golf with his play-off victory against Justin Rose in 2025, winning the Masters on his 17th attempt as he followed in the footsteps of Gene Sarazen, Ben Hogan, Player, Nicklaus and Woods to win all four men's majors.

Far from an easy win, McIlroy opened his week with a level par 72, but charged into contention and took a one-shot lead into the final round thanks to a pair of 66s over Friday and Saturday.

No stranger to Masters heartache, McIlroy looked set for more with a double-bogey on the opening hole in the final round, but it wasn't long before he was back on top on a tumultuous day of scoring.

A final round 73 left him tied alongside Rose, who posted his own 66 to force a play-off, where McIlroy triumphed.

It was his fifth Major title, coming nearly 11 years after he claimed his fourth Major at the 2014 US PGA Championship.

As fate would have it, McIlroy waited 17 years for a first Masters title. But he only needed to wait one more year for another.

He held a record six-shot lead after 36 holes but faltered on Saturday as Cameron Young came from eight shots behind him to share with 18 holes to go.

Once again McIlroy struggled early as Young took advantage, but yet again he bounced back.

By the time he arrived at the 72nd hole he was two shots clear, and despite a nervy tee shot into the trees and second shot into the greenside bunker, he held on for a one-shot victory over World Number One Scottie Scheffler.

With it, McIlroy tied Sir Nick Faldo for the most Major wins (6) by a European golfer.

To watch Rory McIlroy live on the DP World Tour, click here to buy your tickets. The six-time Major champion is confirmed to play at the Genesis Scottish Open, Amgen Irish Open, BMW PGA Championship and DP World India Championship.