Five key shots that helped McIlroy win second Masters

ByAndy Gray

BBC Sport NI Journalist

With a tap into the hole, a look to the sky and a release of emotion, another chapter of golfing history was complete.

A year on from his first Augusta triumph, Rory McIlroy became only the fourth man to defend the Masters title.

He joins esteemed company in Jack Nicklaus, Sir Nick Faldo and Tiger Woods, who also donned the Green Jacket in successive years.

But what were the key shots that helped the Northern Irishman on his way to consecutive victories at Augusta National?

McIlroy opened his Masters bid with an opening round of 67, and the highlight was a run of three birdies on the bounce on the back nine that put him in the joint lead with American Sam Burns.

After picking up shots on the 13th and 14th holes, McIlroy took on the par-five 15th and while his third shot to 29 feet wasn't the strongest set-up shot of his round, what followed was perfection.

The ball curled beautifully from left to right and fell into the hole, which prompted a muted raised fist from McIlroy.

He would end the day joint-top of the standings.

There is just something special about watching an athlete at the top of their game around one of the sport's most iconic venues.

That's exactly what happened on the back nine of McIlroy's second round on Friday, with six birdies in seven holes in a scintillating performance.

The highlight was undoubtedly his chip in on the 17th, after missing the green off to the right by some distance.

However, with a delicate touch and the flag on the far side of the green, his near 30-yard effort was perfection, taking a bounce on the putting surface before rolling straight into the cup.

This time the celebration wasn't as muted as he raised his arm aloft, club still in hand, as the crowd went into raptures.

Another birdie would follow on the final hole, and his second round of 65 gave him a Masters record six-stroke lead after 36 holes.

Just 24 hours after his record round, McIlroy's advantage was eradicated as he toiled on Saturday to a one-over 73.

His hopes looked like they were fading further on Sunday with a double bogey and bogey in the first six holes, but McIlroy rallied and started to work his way back up the leaderboard.

The turning point came on the 12th at Amen Corner, when the 36-year-old nailed his tee shot on the 155-yard par three to just under seven feet from the hole.

No other player got as close to the pin all day, and he duly holed the putt to take a two-stroke lead, as Cameron Young missed his effort to keep pace.

McIlroy would not look back from there, and another birdie followed at 13. Amen Corner was tamed, and McIlroy was on the home straight.

A late charge from world number one Scottie Scheffler - a two-time major champion - put pressure on McIlroy at the top of the leaderboard, moving within two shots.

McIlroy, with the adrenaline pumping, hammered his tee shot on the 170-yard par three 16th beyond the pin and off the back of the green.

It was not quite as far off target as Tiger Woods was in 2005 when he chipped in on his way to victory but the parallels were clear to see.

McIlroy opted to putt and hit a beautifully paced shot onto the green and allowed the contours to guide the ball down towards the flag.

He judged it to almost perfection, the ball stopping a foot from the hole. Moments later he tapped in for a crucial par that maintained his two-shot lead with two holes to play.

After an 11-year wait between his previous two major titles, a second in the space of a year was within his grasp.

It will arguably be the best bogey of McIlroy's career.

With a two-shot lead on the 18th tee the job was almost done but McIlroy had a wild swipe and his ball flew to the right and into trees.

Hearts were suddenly racing again.

After what seemed like an eternity, as he tried to usher thousands of spectators away from his intended line of attack to the green, he thrashed his ball out of the pine straw and into a greenside bunker.

It was a key moment. Another poor swing could easily have led to a double bogey and a play-off with Scheffler.

He backed that with a strong shot from the sand to 12 feet and with two putts for the title, took both of them.

The final stroke, from seven inches, was the length that all players dream of to win a major.

There was a huge release of emotion. McIlroy hugged his caddie Harry Diamond, looked to the sky and let out a roar as he raised him arms aloft - his sixth major title cementing his place as one of the sport's greats.