Rory McIlroy’s Masters win establishes another year with a repeat major champion Rory McIlroy won the Masters on Sunday. On some level it all is rather not surprising given the events of the last year and change. On another level it is completely shocking given that the golf world very recently wondered if he would ever secure a green jacket and he now has two.Much has rightfully been made about how Rory is the first repeat winner at Augusta since Tiger Woods in 2001 and 2002. McIlroy is just the fourth ever to repeat at the tournament of all tournaments (Jack Nicklaus and Nick Faldo). It is a historic landmark to say the least.AUGUSTA, GEORGIA – APRIL 12: Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland holds the trophy wearing his Green Jacket at the presentation after the final round of the 2026 Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club on April 12, 2026 in Augusta, Georgia. (Photo by David Cannon/Getty Images) Getty ImagesInterestingly, this gives us another two-year run where a major champion is repeated across the landscape of men’s golf as Rory won a major in 2025 and now has taken home the first one in 2026. Obviously in this case they were the same tournament.This unique run has happened a few times in recent history.Scottie Scheffler from 2024 to 2025PORTRUSH, NORTHERN IRELAND – JULY 20: Scottie Scheffler of the United States poses with the Claret Jug on the 18th green after winning The 153rd Open Championship at Royal Portrush Golf Club on July 20, 2025 in Portrush, Northern Ireland. (Photo by Warren Little/Getty Images) Getty ImagesTo be perfectly clear we began 2026 with this particular happening taking place this past year.Scottie Scheffler won the Masters for a second time himself in 2024 (2022), and in 2025 he famously won both the PGA Championship and Open Championship. I had a bit of a choice when it came to photos to use, didn’t I?This marked the first time in a handful of years that a single player won a major in consecutive seasons.Collin Morikawa from 2020 to 2021SANDWICH, ENGLAND – JULY 18: Open Champion, Collin Morikawa of United States poses with the Claret Jug on the 18th hole during Day Four of The 149th Open at Royal St George’s Golf Club on July 18, 2021 in Sandwich, England. (Photo by Matthew Lewis/R&A/R&A via Getty Images) R&A via Getty ImagesPrior to Scottie last year the most recent instance of a player winning major titles in consecutive seasons was Collin Morikawa. It is impossible to forget how Morikawa stormed to victory during the PGA Championship at Harding Park in 2020, and a year later he himself took home the Claret Jug.Brooks Koepka from 2017 through 2019FARMINGDALE, NEW YORK – MAY 19: Brooks Koepka of the United States poses with the Wanamaker Trophy during the Trophy Presentation Ceremony after winning the final round of the 2019 PGA Championship at the Bethpage Black course on May 19, 2019 in Farmingdale, New York. (Photo by Ross Kinnaird/Getty Images) Getty ImagesThis is when things were particularly impressive.Brooks Koepka not only won majors in consecutive seasons, but he won them in three straight. Koepka took home the U.S. Open in 2018, both the PGA Championship and U.S. Open in 2018, and then the PGA Championship once more in 2019 (he would go on to win the PGA again in 2023 obviously).At the time of the 2019 PGA Championship win, Brooks was the defending champion twice over at both the PGA and U.S. Open. Obviously that would only last a little while before Gary Woodland won the U.S. Open in 2019 at Pebble Beach.Rory McIlroy from 2011 to 2012KIAWAH ISLAND, SC – AUGUST 12: Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland holds up the Wanamaker Trophy after winning the 94th PGA Championship at the Ocean Course on August 12, 2012 in Kiawah Island, South Carolina. (Photo by David Cannon/Getty Images) Getty ImagesWhile there were a pair of years where players won multiple majors in the same year in the run-up to Brooks (Jordan Spieth in 2015 and Rory McIlroy in 2014), Brooks obviously did it himself in 2018 as noted, prior to the run just mentioned the two-year stretch where a player won a major in consecutive seasons was Rory once more. Quite the full circle here.McIlroy’s first major championship came at the U.S. Open in 2011 and then he won the PGA Championship for the first time in 2012. He would win the event in again in 2014, after winning the Open Championship, and set up the drought that was broken last year which started this whole discussion and the Career Grand Slam opportunity that he finally met.Who will be the next player to win majors in consecutive seasons? At the moment only Scottie Scheffler and J.J. Spaun (who won last year’s U.S. Open) are eligible to do it. Scottie can obviously win one for the third year in a row.Rory will be again next year as well. Recent history shows it would be silly to bet against him. #Rory #McIlroys #Masters #win #establishes #year #repeat #major #champion

Apr 12, 2026; Washington, District of Columbia, USA; Washington Capitals left wing Alex Ovechkin (8) covers Pittsburgh Penguins center Sidney Crosby (87) in the final minute during the third period at Capital One Arena. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-Imagn Images

The Pittsburgh Penguins are locked into second place in the Metropolitan Division and know who they’ll play in the first round of the playoffs.

That said, they still have some areas to clean up heading into their regular-season finale on Tuesday night against the host St. Louis Blues.

The Penguins will host their in-state rival, the Philadelphia Flyers, in the first round beginning later this week, but they don’t plan to stroll through their matchup against St. Louis.

“It’s going to be important to finish off the regular season the right way,” Pittsburgh coach Dan Muse said. “I’d love to do that with a win.”

The Penguins (41-24-16, 98 points) lost their past two games, a home-and-home series against the Washington Capitals.

Pittsburgh got shut out 3-0 in Washington on Sunday, but Muse thought his team played better in the second game after losing 6-3 at home on Saturday.

“Opportunities for rebounds were there,” Muse said. “We were able to generate some good looks, too. Their guy played well, so that’s part of the game as well. It was better than (Saturday), but still some things we’ve got to take away and make sure that we’re cleaning up.”

Muse definitely would like to see some pucks go in the net before the playoffs begin.

“Going off of (Saturday), I felt like we weren’t in the offensive zone very much and it’s a credit to (the Capitals),” Muse said. “I thought we did a better job of getting and spending some more time there, I think. Even still, some opportunities to shoot more pucks, get pucks into the net front area.”

Pittsburgh will have home-ice advantage against the Flyers in the first-round series.

“We’ve got a work week now, too, where we’ll be able to get a couple good practice days before Game 1,” Muse said. “There will definitely be some areas we can continue to work on and just make sure we’re feeling good about all parts of our game.”

The Penguins played without forwards Noel Acciari (upper body), Anthony Mantha (lower body) and Ben Kindel (upper body) as well as defensemen Ryan Shea (upper body) and Connor Clifton (upper body). Each is day to day.

The Blues, who are coming off a 6-3 win at the Minnesota Wild on Monday, will conclude their disappointing season on Thursday at the Utah Mammoth.

St. Louis (35-33-12, 82 points) stayed in the Western Conference playoff race up until Saturday. Despite beating the Chicago Blackhawks, 5-3, the Blues were eliminated when the Los Angeles Kings recorded a 1-0 victory over the Edmonton Oilers.

It’s the third time in the past four years that St. Louis will miss the playoffs.

The Blues have faced scoring issues most of the season, both at even strength and with the man-advantage.

They are averaging 2.73 goals per game, which ranks 28th in the league this season, Their 17.5% success rate on the power plays ranks 27th.

“It could be hard to come out in these games when you’re eliminated and they’re sitting nine regulars and it has that feel to it,” Blues forward Jake Neighbours said. “But, you’ve got to find a way as a player to come out with a little more energy and passion and play for the fans and play for the logo.”

–Field Level Media

#Deadspin #Penguins #prepare #playoffs #season #finale #Blues">

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Apr 12, 2026; Washington, District of Columbia, USA; Washington Capitals left wing Alex Ovechkin (8) covers Pittsburgh Penguins center Sidney Crosby (87) in the final minute during the third period at Capital One Arena. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-Imagn Images

The Pittsburgh Penguins are locked into second place in the Metropolitan Division and know who they’ll play in the first round of the playoffs.

That said, they still have some areas to clean up heading into their regular-season finale on Tuesday night against the host St. Louis Blues.

The Penguins will host their in-state rival, the Philadelphia Flyers, in the first round beginning later this week, but they don’t plan to stroll through their matchup against St. Louis.

“It’s going to be important to finish off the regular season the right way,” Pittsburgh coach Dan Muse said. “I’d love to do that with a win.”

The Penguins (41-24-16, 98 points) lost their past two games, a home-and-home series against the Washington Capitals.

Pittsburgh got shut out 3-0 in Washington on Sunday, but Muse thought his team played better in the second game after losing 6-3 at home on Saturday.

“Opportunities for rebounds were there,” Muse said. “We were able to generate some good looks, too. Their guy played well, so that’s part of the game as well. It was better than (Saturday), but still some things we’ve got to take away and make sure that we’re cleaning up.”

Muse definitely would like to see some pucks go in the net before the playoffs begin.

“Going off of (Saturday), I felt like we weren’t in the offensive zone very much and it’s a credit to (the Capitals),” Muse said. “I thought we did a better job of getting and spending some more time there, I think. Even still, some opportunities to shoot more pucks, get pucks into the net front area.”

Pittsburgh will have home-ice advantage against the Flyers in the first-round series.

“We’ve got a work week now, too, where we’ll be able to get a couple good practice days before Game 1,” Muse said. “There will definitely be some areas we can continue to work on and just make sure we’re feeling good about all parts of our game.”

The Penguins played without forwards Noel Acciari (upper body), Anthony Mantha (lower body) and Ben Kindel (upper body) as well as defensemen Ryan Shea (upper body) and Connor Clifton (upper body). Each is day to day.

The Blues, who are coming off a 6-3 win at the Minnesota Wild on Monday, will conclude their disappointing season on Thursday at the Utah Mammoth.

St. Louis (35-33-12, 82 points) stayed in the Western Conference playoff race up until Saturday. Despite beating the Chicago Blackhawks, 5-3, the Blues were eliminated when the Los Angeles Kings recorded a 1-0 victory over the Edmonton Oilers.

It’s the third time in the past four years that St. Louis will miss the playoffs.

The Blues have faced scoring issues most of the season, both at even strength and with the man-advantage.

They are averaging 2.73 goals per game, which ranks 28th in the league this season, Their 17.5% success rate on the power plays ranks 27th.

“It could be hard to come out in these games when you’re eliminated and they’re sitting nine regulars and it has that feel to it,” Blues forward Jake Neighbours said. “But, you’ve got to find a way as a player to come out with a little more energy and passion and play for the fans and play for the logo.”

–Field Level Media

#Deadspin #Penguins #prepare #playoffs #season #finale #Blues">Deadspin | Penguins prepare for playoffs with season finale vs. Blues