10 Golfers Who Won the 2026 Masters Besides Rory McIlroy

There's a particular magic that settles over Augusta National during Masters week—a hush that falls as azaleas bloom and history whispers through the Georgia pines. We spend so much time focused on the winner that we sometimes forget the dozens of other stories unfolding across those impossibly perfect fairways. The 2026 Masters gave us Rory McIlroy's crowning moment, yes, but it also gave us so much more.

The Gift We All Received

Before we dive into individual performances, let's acknowledge the collective victory we shared as spectators. This was, quite simply, a legitimate back-and-forth, plot-twisting Masters Sunday between some of the finest golfers walking the earth. Augusta National showed out in her finest spring dress, the weather cooperated beautifully, and we witnessed the kind of drama that makes this tournament the most anticipated week on the calendar.

In an era of endless hot takes and manufactured controversy, the 2026 Masters reminded us why we fell in love with this game in the first place. That's worth celebrating.

Tyrrell Hatton: LIV's Lone Bright Spot

The breakaway league had a largely forgettable week at Augusta—just one of its players finished under par or inside the top 30. But Tyrrell Hatton refused to let his Saturday 72 define his week. Instead, the fiery Englishman produced a splendid Sunday 66 that carried him to a tie for third place. For a player who wears his emotions so visibly, watching him channel that intensity into controlled brilliance on Sunday was something special.

Russell Henley: So Close to Glory

I've always believed Russell Henley possesses one of the purest swings in professional golf, and Sunday morning at Augusta proved it. When he birdied four of his first eight holes to reach 10 under par, the Georgia native suddenly found himself with a legitimate chance to claim his first major championship.

The back nine didn't cooperate—he played the final 10 holes even par, unable to convert the birdie looks he was creating. "I hit it amazing today. I gave myself a bunch of looks," Henley reflected afterward. "Unfortunately, I didn't capitalize on those looks on the back like I would have liked to."

The silver lining? This marked his fifth top-10 finish in his last seven major starts and his first career top-three. At 37, Henley is trending in exactly the right direction.

Maverick McNealy: The Quiet Climber

There's nothing flashy about Mav McNealy—not his personality, not his game, not his major championship resume. But sometimes the most compelling stories are written in understated prose. After a brutal opening-round 77 that could have derailed his entire week, McNealy steadied himself and logged his first career top-20 finish in a major, including a Sunday 67 powered by his typically brilliant putting.

Michael Brennan: The Future Announced

Remember this name. Brennan burst onto the scene with an improbable victory at last year's Bank of Utah Championship, where a sponsor exemption turned into his first PGA Tour win in his first professional start. The road since has been uneven, as it always is for young players finding their footing, but his T24 at Augusta represented his best finish anywhere in 2026.

There's something thrilling about watching a young player navigate Augusta's complexities for the first time as a professional, learning the hidden contours and absorbing the atmosphere. Brennan will be back.

The Takeaway

Augusta National has always been about more than a single green jacket. It's about the blooming azaleas framing Amen Corner, the roars echoing through the pines, and the dozens of personal victories that occur alongside the main event. The 2026 Masters delivered on every promise—a worthy champion in McIlroy, breakthrough moments for rising stars, and veteran performances that reminded us why we keep coming back to this cathedral of golf.

Sometimes the best way to honor a tournament is simply to acknowledge: this one was pretty damn good.