Scottie Scheffler Surges Up Masters Leaderboard With Final-Round 69

The world No. 1 player made a late charge but came up just short of catching Rory McIlroy.

Apr. 12, 2026 at 10:21pm

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A fractured, cubist-style painting depicting the motion and energy of a golfer's swing, with the iconic Masters tournament landscape broken down into overlapping geometric shapes and planes in a vibrant color palette.Scottie Scheffler's late surge at the 2026 Masters falls just short, but the world No. 1 player proves he can still contend on golf's biggest stages.Scottsdale Today

Scottie Scheffler, the world's top-ranked golfer, made a spirited final-round charge at the 2026 Masters, firing a 3-under 69 to finish solo second, two shots behind winner Rory McIlroy. Scheffler made consecutive birdies on holes 15 and 16 to cut McIlroy's lead to two, but a missed putt on 17 and an errant iron shot on 18 ultimately kept him from catching the leader.

Why it matters

Scheffler, who has won just once this season despite being the world No. 1, has a history of faltering in early rounds and then making late Sunday charges, as he did at the Waste Management Phoenix Open and AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am earlier this year. His final-round surge at Augusta shows he still has the ability to contend for major championships.

The details

After being even par through 36 holes and trailing McIlroy by a wide margin, Scheffler caught fire on Saturday with a 65 to get back into contention. He continued that momentum on Sunday, making birdies on 15 and 16 to pull within two shots of the lead. However, a missed putt on 17 and a wayward iron shot on 18 prevented him from completing the comeback.

  • Scheffler was even par through 36 holes on Thursday and Friday.
  • Scheffler shot a 65 on Saturday to get back into contention.
  • Scheffler made consecutive birdies on holes 15 and 16 on Sunday to pull within two shots of the lead.

The players

Scottie Scheffler

The world's top-ranked golfer, who has won one PGA Tour event this season.

Rory McIlroy

The eventual winner of the 2026 Masters, who held a large lead for much of the tournament.

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What they’re saying

“Solo second and two off the lead for Scottie Scheffler.”

— The Masters

What’s next

Scheffler will look to build on his strong Masters performance as he continues his quest for his first major championship victory of the 2026 season.

The takeaway

Despite his consistent play and No. 1 world ranking, Scottie Scheffler has struggled to close out victories this season. His final-round charge at the Masters, however, shows he still has the ability to contend for major titles, and he will look to carry that momentum into the rest of the major championship season.