Rory McIlroy made history at Augusta National last Sunday, becoming only the fourth golfer ever to win back-to-back Masters titles and claiming his sixth major championship, but nearly $1.9 million of his $4.5 million prize will go straight to the taxman.

The Northern Irishman’s second consecutive green jacket arrived at the end of one of the most dramatic final rounds Augusta has seen in years. McIlroy had squandered a record six-shot lead in the third round, briefly surrendered the lead again on Sunday, before birdying the 12th and 13th to surge clear.

He then survived a nervy finish at the 18th, driving into the trees before getting up and down from a bunker to win with a bogey. As he sank the final putt, he was greeted by his parents, who had been absent for his first Masters triumph.

His one-shot victory over world No. 1 Scottie Scheffler placed McIlroy alongside Jack Nicklaus, Nick Faldo and Tiger Woods in the tournament’s history books. Scheffler collected $2.43 million for his runner-up finish, while Tyrrell Hatton, Russell Henley, Justin Rose and Cameron Young each took home $1.08 million for their share of third place.

The 2026 Masters offered a record $22.5 million purse, up from $21 million the previous year. But every competitor at Augusta faces an unavoidable consequence of winning on American soil. Analysis by AskGamblers found that McIlroy is set to lose $1,898,550 of his winnings due to US tax regulations.

All Master’s competitors are subject to a combined tax rate of 41.99 percent in 2026, which reflects the federal withholding rate of 37 percent and Georgia’s state tax rate of 4.99 percent. Across his two consecutive Masters victories, McIlroy has now accumulated a combined tax bill of $3,669,930, an increase of $109,170 on his 2025 liability, driven by the larger prize fund and a marginal rise in Georgia’s state rate.

The total projected tax bill for the entire 2026 Masters field stands at $9,447,750, up $545,850 on the previous year. Beyond the finances, McIlroy’s place in the sport’s pantheon continues to grow. He is now joint-second on the list of European major winners, alongside Faldo, with six, behind only Harry Vardon’s seven, accumulated between 1896 and 1914.

He also becomes the first player since Tiger Woods to hold the same major title in consecutive years, a feat that underlines just how dominant his form at Augusta has become.