Winners, Losers & Payouts: 2026 Masters

Augusta National doesn’t just test your golf swing—it tests your nerve, your patience, and your place in history.

On a Sunday that twisted and turned like only the Masters can, Rory McIlroy didn’t simply win—he endured. He finished at 12-under par, one shot clear of World #1 and fast-charging Scottie Scheffler, and in doing so, captured his second consecutive Green Jacket. (Note: He actually didn’t win a literal 2nd jacket. After he makes his media rounds, his 1st and only will head right back to Augusta and be re-hung in the hallowed coat room.)

Rory’s victory brought a Masters record $4.5 million payday, but more importantly, it placed him in rare company—making him the first player since Tiger Woods in 2002 to successfully defend at Augusta.

But the final margin tells only a fraction of the story.

For stretches on the front nine, it felt like the tournament was slipping away. A double bogey. A vanished lead. The familiar tension that has haunted McIlroy at Augusta in years past began to creep back into view. Around him, the leaderboard tightened—Scheffler applying steady, relentless pressure on his way to $2.43 million for solo second, while a pack that included Justin Rose and Cameron Young, who both held the lead at one point on Sunday, lingered, hoping to win the tourney themselves, and all the legacy-building benefits that are bestowed on victors of the most important event golf.

The 2026 Masters’ version of McIlroy is different.

Gone is the player who relied solely on brilliance. In his place stands one who embraces chaos. He steadied himself, recalibrated, and delivered when it mattered most. By the time he reached the 18th fairway, the tournament had transformed from a potential unraveling into something far more meaningful—a validation of resilience.

Afterward, McIlroy framed it with quiet clarity: “It’s part of the journey, not the destination.” The quote felt less like a reflection and more like a warning.

Behind him, Scheffler was once again the “nearly man” at Augusta. His 11-under performance would have been enough in most years, built on the consistency that wins major championships. This time, it only underscored how narrow the margin is between victory and second place when history is on the line. His bogey-free weekend was sublime, but not good enough.

Further down the board, a crowded tie for third at 10-under told its own story. Rose and Young, along with Tyrrell Hatton and Russell Henley, each earned approximately $1.08 million, a substantial reward that still feels like a consolation at Augusta. Rose added another close call to a résumé full of them here. Young continued to prove he belongs on the biggest stages, even if the final step remains just out of reach in major championships.

The numbers reflect the magnitude of the moment. A $22.5 million purse reinforces how the Masters has evolved into both a proving ground and a financial summit—but money feels secondary when legacy is being rewritten in real time.

Because that’s what this week ultimately was.

A year removed from completing the career Grand Slam, McIlroy returned to Augusta and didn’t just relive the moment—he elevated it. Back-to-back Masters titles don’t happen by accident. They require not only talent, but transformation.

And now, standing on the other side of expectation, pressure, and history, Rory McIlroy is no longer chasing greatness.

He’s defining it.

Winners and Losers on Sunday at ANGC:

Winner: Tyrrell Hatton. Our favorite LIVr fired a co-Sunday best, six-under, 66 to move up 12 spots on the leaderboard, finishing up T-3. He kept his cool, unlike his fellow LIV hot-head Sergio Garcia, and earned $1M+ for his efforts.

Loser: Justin Rose. We actually thought he was going to pull it off and finally win his first green jacket. But his back-nine 38 was his undoing, and like previous years, he came up just short.

Winner: Max Homa. Max is not the golfer he was a few years ago, when he was picking up victories and living in the top 15 of the world rankings, but he played like one yesterday, firing a final-round 67, earning him a guaranteed return visit to the Masters in 2027 (top 12 and ties receive an invite to the next Masters tournament).

Loser: Shane Lowry. While his best friend in golf was off winning his 2nd green jacket, Lowry posted an 80 in the final round. Ouch. 

Loser of the Year?: Haotong Li. Like Lowry, Li also posted an 80, but his was extra special. He tripled the famous par-3 12th and followed that with a 10 on the par-5 13th hole, while many charging up the leaderboard were making birdies. He fell 31 spots on the leaderboard. Ouch x 2. 

Masters 2026 prize money payouts: