These are treasured times. We will miss it when it’s gone. Rory McIlroy is a once in a generational sporing icon and last evening he further etched his name in the history books by successfully defending the Masters at Augusta National.

Emotions are spent, nerves are frayed as yet another Masters rollercoaster ride ensued on the third day at Augusta, yet somehow the defending champion Rory McIlroy still has a chance of winning despite relinquishing a six stroke lead.

Defending champion Rory McIlroy seized control of the 90th Masters with a brilliant burst of scoring on the back nine to take a record six-shot lead at the halfway stage.

Rory McIlroy made an excellent start to the defence of his Masters title as he shot a five-under-par 67 to hold a share of the first-round lead alongside Sam Burns at Augusta National.

So much has changed in 12 months as Rory McIlroy gets ready for the defence of his Masters title he famously won down Magnolia Lane to cement his legacy as one of the all-time greats in the game.

Tee-times for the 2026 Masters were released earlier today, and it doesn’t take too much scrolling to find the marquee groups that will have us on the edge of our sofas for the opening round of the first Major of the year.

Maria Jose Marin set a new championship record by two strokes with a 14-under 202 to win the 2026 Augusta National Women's Amateur. With this win, Marin becomes the first champion to represent Latin America in the history of the event as well as the first Colombian to win at Augusta National Golf Club.

This County Down family has already produced a European gold medal in athletics, and All-Ireland titles in GAA, while this week they dream of glory down Magnolia Lane as Beth Coulter attempts to win the Augusta National Women’s Amateur.

Tiger Woods last evening announced he will ‘step away for a period of time’ to seek treatment and focus on his health following his recent crash near his home on Jupiter Island in Florida.