Shane Ryan

this was fun both to think about and write, Rory always gets the neurons firing

@Fortis1051 thank you!

@ShaneRyanHere This level of writing is almost wasted on sports. Shane that was incredible

Rory has something deep inside that drives him to greatness and protects him from collapse even in the midst of sometimes long struggle, and it goes beyond resilience or ego and has nothing to do with whether he's a good guy. On the secret ingredient: golfdigest.com/story/masters-…

We're still missing the thing that makes Rory great. My thoughts on an incredible Sunday, continuing misconception (including me) on how Rory is driven, and the mystery at his core: golfdigest.com/story/masters-…

Ten Monday thoughts on the 2026 Masters: 1. I got my Sunday predictions wildly wrong, mostly because I thought it would be inevitable that someone made a run to force everyone else to respond. Someone kinda did, Scottie, but he was just a little too far down (or Hatton, if you want to pretend he had a chance). In the last three groups, it was one of the more passive Masters Sundays I've seen. 2. Rory's bounce-back ability, which you can call "short memory," is impressive in both the short- and long-term. I truly can't think of another player (for instance) who would have survived that three-putt on 4. After it happened, I said, "this guy lost the Masters on the 12th hole on Saturday," and it felt like one of those rock-solid bits of analysis. Never in a million years would've thought he could come back to win. 3. Cam Young wasn't quite who I thought he was yesterday, somehow a little more wild *and* less confident than I expected. On the back nine, he looked almost cowed and disappointed, a very different person than we saw in the closing stretch at Sawgrass. He'll be back, but I thought it would be his day. 4. I've never seen a clearer example of the moment being too big than Burns on hole 2. Ties the lead, and it's like a blaring "you're tied for the lead at Augusta on Sunday!" sign went off in his head, with instant repercussions. 5. This is more brutal for Justin Rose than anyone. Going out in 32, having the two-shot lead early on the back, and to not just lose, but unlike past years to basically give it away...it's one thing for Burns or Young to look less than ready, but Rose was/is ready, and this was his big chance to cap off the second act of his career. My guess is it won't get this good again. 6. The Rory drive on 18 is still just so insane. Imagine the world we're living in right now if that gets stuck behind a tree and Scottie beats him in a playoff. 7. This has been said plenty, but it was just an absurdly good weekend for Scottie, which of course means we'll all be looking at this like a huge lost opportunity considering the 70-74 start. But I almost think it re-affirms how great he is in another way. He has a way of at least trying to steal Rory's thunder, last year winning two majors after Rory won the Masters, and it would be interesting this year to see him try it again by winning the career slam at the USO. 8. Illogical Jordan hope is so high now after his ball-striking this week. Surely he will learn to putt again, right?? 9. Do we think the lack of scoring in the final three groups was nerves or the course toughening up? 10. Rory is one of the great men of golf history now, endlessly complicated, larger-than-life, and my take on him is always that nothing is quite as tidy as it looks, in good times or bad. His charisma and likability (or, if you're a hater, the opposite of those things) disguises what I think of his essence, a force of nature who loves the stage and is impossible to deny. I think what I appreciate about him most here in 2026 is how he's never been cowed, and has that irrepressible core that, love it or hate it, always seeks out and eventually finds competitive greatness.

Rory McIlroy won the Masters by recognizing he was ready to get hurt again golfdigest.com/story/masters-…

@tweeth_mitchell yeah i don't think there's any argument for Faldo anymore. you could try to get weird with harry vardon i guess?

@ShaneRyanHere I mean, he already was, but now he extra is

Is Rory now the greatest European golfer ever?

Scores needed to tie Rory today, from the last few groups, vs. what they actually shot: Scheffler: 67 - 68 Rose: 68 - 70 Day: 68 - 75 Lowry: 69 - 80 Burns: 70 - 73 Young: 71 - 73 felt like destiny for Rory, particularly considering some of the low scores earlier

closing with a flourish here

they should do away with the Sunday pin position on 16. novelty act. land it anywhere within a country mile and you're 5 feet or less away. somehow miss it, and just throw it onto the middle of the green and be a foot away when it stops rolling

I've enjoyed some of the experimental camera work here at the closing stages of the Masters, but I hope they get really avant-garde for the last few holes, cut completely away from the action to a sheep being sheared or something

this one's going to be tough to take for rose

Russell Henley is one back at the Masters, trying to become the first Georgia native to win the Masters since Larry Mize in 1987. Henley moved to Mize’s hometown of Columbus, Georgia, in 2019 and Mize became his mentor. Henley was waiting behind the 18th green three years ago when Mize played the final hole of his Masters career. “I just said I loved him,” Henley said, when asked what he told Mize in that moment. They played many Masters practice rounds together, as well, and Mize, who famously chipped in to win at Augusta, has shared short-game secrets with Henley. “He’s been a mentor and father figure for me,” Henley said. “Just anything that goes on in my life, … he’s been there to chat with me about it. He’s just an amazing guy and somebody I look up to a lot.”

meanwhile, rumor has it Augusta is killing the gnome, as we documented here: youtube.com/watch?v=35GqP-… (also, original price was $39.50, but who's counting)

how good is Sunday at the Masters? I feel like I've lived three lifetimes already and the leaders just teed off on 7

@lagoat88 you're not wrong. maybe it only applies to positive things. you can definitely pre-ID an incoming gag

@ShaneRyanHere Not sure about that. With burns/lowry you knew what you were getting coming in

A lesson reinforced today—any "take" that claims to understand how a player will feel/react to pressure is a take you should ignore. Players: "Ludvig looks so calm out there, he doesn't rattle!" Masters: "Rory has a green jacket, he's going to play so free!" All guesswork.

@PasonJage @haotong_li fantastic

Please clap for my @haotong_li toilet illustration.

Didn't expect this: The fans watching at Holywood Golf Club are standing up and chanting Cam Young's name like the Soviet generals at the end of the fight in Rocky IV