From The Sports Desk: Rory’s Repeat

GolfFrom The Sports Desk: Rory’s RepeatWNBA draft night, league free agency hits overdrive.Listen to this article with a free account00:0000:00Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland celebrates winning the 2026 Masters Tournament on the 18th green at Augusta National Golf Club on April 12, 2026 in Augusta, Ga. Jared C. Tilton / Getty ImagesShareAdd NBC News to GoogleApril 13, 2026, 3:01 PM EDTBy Tim Rohan and Doha MadaniYesterday, Rory McIlroy confirmed his status as one of golf’s all-time greats, becoming the fourth golfer ever to win back-to-back Masters, and the first since Tiger Woods in the early 2000s. He showed a lot of mental fortitude in the process. We’ll dive in below.Subscribe to read this story ad-free Get unlimited access to ad-free articles and exclusive content.Also, the WNBA saw a flurry of major free agent moves over the weekend. Our Doha Madani will fill you in. As always, check NBC News for more coverage. Master of the UniverseAt the end of the second round Friday at Augusta National, McIlroy held a six-stroke lead — the largest lead, at that point in the tournament, in Masters history.A day later, he squandered it and found himself tied for first place. Yesterday, he was actually trailing after he carded a double bogey on the fourth hole and a bogey on the sixth.“I don’t make it easy,” McIlroy said afterward.Instead, he dug deep and birdied four of the next seven holes to retake control.“You have a lot of time to think,” McIlroy said. “You’re out there a long time. There’s a long time between shots. There’s a long time between rounds. Of all the big sports, I do think it is the most mental. It’s the most challenging mentally.”Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland reacts with the Masters Trophy during the Green Jacket Ceremony after winning the final round of the 2026 Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club on April 12, 2026 in Augusta, Ga. Jared C. Tilton / Getty ImagesAt moments, McIlroy found himself thinking of his parents, who were there watchi...