Rory McIlroy reveals opponent was 'pulled into hedges' by Masters officials during final round

Rory McIlroy has revealed that one of his opponents was 'pulled into the hedges' by Augusta officials during the final round of the 2026 Masters.

McIlroy won the tournament to claim his second consecutive Masters crown, becoming the fourth golfer in history to do so.

Only Jack Nicklaus, Sir Nick Faldo and Tiger Woods have previously achieved the same feat.

McIlroy shot a one-under-par round of 71 to win by a single shot ahead of Scottie Scheffler.

He dropped to nine-over-par after six holes on the final day after a double bogey on the fourth was followed by a bogey on hole six.

But he didn't drop a shot for the remainder of the round, and entered hole 18 with a two-shot advantage over Scheffler on -13.

A two-putt on the 18th green was all that was needed for McIlroy, who will once again enter the Masters as defending champion when next year comes around.

His playing partner on Sunday was Players Championship winner Cameron Young, who was tied alongside McIlroy at -11 at the end of the third round.

Young carded a one-over-par round of 73 and, while he did play solid golf across the day at Augusta, just couldn't find the fine margins required to challenge for the green jacket.

Cam Young was McIlroy's playing partner on Masters Sunday (Image: Getty)

On the 13th hole, there was a momentary pause after McIlroy struck his tee shot, with the Northern Irishman waiting alongside caddie Harry Diamond before walking to address his second shot.

It was picked up by Sky Sports TV commentators as the station went to an advert break, and McIlroy has explained exactly what went on.

"Cam was pulled in behind some hedges by a couple of referees to talk about something that may or may not have happened on the course," he recalled.

"I don't know what it was about. I didn't ask him. But I thought instead of me getting up there and waiting at my ball forever, I'd just hang back until Cam came back out.

"I don't really like that second shot anyway, so I don't need to be up there looking at it for too long.

"So I just tried to hang back, just so I could get to the ball and go through my normal routine, and not be waiting up there for what I would feel like is forever."

McIlroy would credit his tee shot on the par-five 13 as one of the key moments in his win, as he went on to birdie the hole to move on to 13-under.

Young, meanwhile, bounced back from the stoppage to record par - as he did on every hole on the back nine on Masters Sunday.