McIlroy was dominant to start at the course in Augusta, Georgia. Picking up where he left off last year — when he defeated Rose in a playoff to win his first Masters — McIlroy was 12-under after two rounds, having shot a blistering 65 in the second round to open a six-stroke lead over the rest of the field. But he stumbled in the third, shooting a 1-over 73 to fall to 11-under and into a tie with Young for first place.

Amid whispers that McIlroy could repeat some of his worst losses at Augusta, he came back with a vengeance Sunday. He was brilliant as his final round went on, hitting three birdies from holes eight to 13 to give himself a cushion he would never relinquish down the stretch.

“I’m absolutely delighted to get it done,” McIlroy said. “Having a six-shot lead going into the weekend, would have been a bitter to pill to swallow if I didn’t get it done.”

McIlroy had a tortured career at Augusta before the last two years. He lost as part of the final pairings in both 2011 and 2018. A loss Sunday would have echoed some of the lowest moments of his otherwise storied career.

Instead, it was a repeat of his most impressive accomplishment as a pro. And now, instead of an historic loss, McIlroy has entered a new, rarefied tier as one of golf’s all-time greats.

“I thought it was so difficult to win last year because of trying to win the Masters and the grand slam,” McIlroy said. “This year I realized it’s just really difficult to win the Masters.”

He added: “I don’t make it easy.”