Rory McIlroy secured back-to-back titles at the The Masters, winning at Augusta National Golf Club and earning the largest winner’s payout in the tournament’s history—though a substantial portion will go to taxes.
The 36-year-old held off strong late pressure, particularly from Justin Rose, to finish at -12. Scottie Scheffler followed closely at -11, while a group including Cameron Young, Russell Henley, and Tyrrell Hatton ended at -10.
With this victory, McIlroy joined an elite group—Jack Nicklaus, Nick Faldo, and Tiger Woods—as one of the few players to successfully defend a Masters title. It also marked his sixth career major.
After the win, McIlroy emphasized persistence, noting that years of effort at Augusta had finally paid off and that he wanted to prove his previous victory was no accident.
Record payout, major deductions
McIlroy earned $4.5 million from the tournament’s $22.5 million prize pool, the highest winner’s share ever awarded at the Masters. However, nearly half of that sum is expected to be lost to taxes.
Reports indicate he could pay roughly 47% in total, including UK tax obligations, U.S. federal tax (37%), and Georgia state tax (5.19%). This could amount to about $2 million in deductions.
His relocation back to the UK means he is taxed at the highest domestic rate, in addition to U.S. liabilities tied to earnings generated in Georgia.
Growing Masters earnings record
Despite the heavy tax burden, McIlroy now holds the record for total career earnings at the Masters, with approximately $13.04 million across 18 appearances.
He leads a list that includes:
- Scottie Scheffler (~$10.48M)
- Phil Mickelson (~$9.87M)
- Tiger Woods (~$9.64M)
Over the past two years alone, McIlroy has reportedly lost more than $3.8 million of his Masters winnings to taxes, despite earning record-breaking prize money.
