AUGUSTA, Ga. — Rory McIlroy holds the largest 36-hole lead in the 90-year history of the Masters.
The Jupiter resident ended his second round on April 10 with four consecutive birdies and six in his final seven holes. McIlroy’s 12-under was six shots better than Sam Burns and Patrick Reed, who were tied for second entering the weekend.
McIlroy’s sizzling second round made him the overwhelming favorite to win midway through the Masters, which would give him his second consecutive Green Jacket.
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But would it give him a second Green Jacket?
And if McIlroy hangs on, who will put the jacket to him, considering the tradition being that is the role of the defending champion. Does McIlroy just slip it on himself? Is it 2024 champion Scottie Scheffler again? Someone else?
Rory McIlroy has his one — and only — Green Jacket
By winning in 2025, McIlroy has as many green jackets as he will ever own. That is as many as Jack Nicklaus, who won a record six Masters. As many as Tiger Woods, who won five.
Repeat Masters winners do not receive a new jacket for each victory. For each additional win, they are presented with the same jacket they received during their initial victory. And they may keep that jacket for one year before returning it to the club.
That tradition has been broken by one Masters champion. Jupiter Island’s Gary Player has a jacket in his possession. Player did not return his green jacket to Augusta National after winning the 1961 Masters.
Player took the jacket to South Africa and, claiming he did not know the rules, reportedly joked to Augusta National chairman Clifford Roberts, “If you want it, come and fetch it.”
Fred Ridley preparing for his moment of fame
When a golfer wins the Masters in consecutive years, the Augusta National Golf Club chairman presents the Green Jacket to the champion, which means Scheffler has fulfilled his duty.
If McIlroy wins, club chairman Fred Ridley would be called in to make the presentation. Ridley has been chairman since 2017.
The previous chairmen to present the jacket to the three players who win in consecutive years were Roberts to Jack Nicklaus in 1966, Hord Hardin to Nick Faldo in 1990 and Hootie Johnson to Tiger Woods in 2002.
Tom D’Angelo is a senior sports columnist and reporter for The Palm Beach Post. He can be reached at tdangelo@pbpost.com.
This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Here are facts about Green Jacket if Rory McIlroy repeats at Masters
Reporting by Tom D’Angelo, Palm Beach Post / Palm Beach Post
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