Rory McIlroy is six shots clear and enjoying the biggest-ever lead at the halfway point of the Masters. A remarkable seven-under 65 featuring four closing birdies in a row has taken him to 12-under and with more Augusta history tantalisingly in focus. What a performance and what a defence this has been.
Talk about London bussing it. After taking 17 attempts to don the Green Jacket, the Northern Irishman has left the field in his wake and has another exclusive club to join. Of course last year, as he ended his 11-year major drought, McIlroy became just the sixth player in history to complete the career grand slam. Now there is an even more elitist set beckoning.
The only three players to retain the Masters title are Jack Nicklaus, Sir Nick Faldo and Tiger Woods, the latter the most recent 24 years ago. And if that does not highlight how demanding the task is – even for a five-time major winner who looked so masterful and unperturbed – then the calibre of the chasers on the leaderboard should only underline the truth that this, despite the record-breaking gap, is still not over.
McIlroy sounded without fear about the prospect. “I’ve built up a nice cushion at this point. I guess my mindset is just trying to keep playing well and keeping my foot on the gas,” he said. “Don’t protect it. Go out and play freely, keep swinging. A big part of the lesson from the 2011 Masters to the 2011 US Open was: don’t get protective. Go out there and keep playing, keep trying to make birdies, stay as trusting and as committed as possible.”
McIlroy knows his pursuers well. In fact, he knows Patrick Reed only too well. The divisive American saw off McIlroy in the last pairing in 2018 to don his Green Jacket. And then, three years ago, McIlroy took a little revenge over Reed at the Dubai Desert Classic in an almighty ding-dong that involved the American throwing a tee at the Northern Irishman and a feud developing through the media.
It could still be delicious and following his 69, Reed agreed. “It’s one of those golf courses that if you go out and you post a low number, you just never know,” he said. “That’s the thing about this course, when it starts playing this firm and fast. Just have to wait and see what the weekend entails. At the same time I love the position I put myself in. Hopefully I can go out and have a good day tomorrow and have a good shot going into Sunday.”
One shot back of second is McIlroy’s Ryder Cup partner Tommy Fleetwood. The Englishman conjured two eagles in his 68 and with only two blemishes on his card – on the first and last – he will be relishing the challenge of going two better here than two years ago and one better than his two runner-up finishes in the majors.
In a tie for fourth on five-under comes McIlroy’s countryman and close friend, Shane Lowry, who was magnificently bogeyless in his 69, and Justin Rose. Twelve months ago, Rose, with 10 birdies in the final round, pushed McIlroy all the way into a play-off, before losing out in sudden death for the second time.
The 45-year-old has been second at Augusta three times and regardless of McIlroy’s star appeal – and in form like this he is irresistible – he will be the emotional choice to at last finish off the job. But there is a freed-up genius to overcome and as McIlroy cast stunning daylight on the rest it was difficult not to think of Fred Couples’s humorous comment on Thursday evening. “You know, Rory may never lose this thing again after last year,” said the former champion.
That is going too far. Although, such was McIlroy’s brilliance and chutzpah – in first pulling three ahead with three birdies in a row from the second and then, after two bogeys from fifth and the 10th, seeing Reed draw level, before striding ahead once again with six birdies in the last seven holes – anything seemed possible for the 36-year-old. The highlight was the chip-in on the par-four 17th for a birdie. After hitting it to two feet for a two on the 16th, it had that decisive feel about it, as did the three up the last. That was just rubbing it in.
McIlroy’s own personal history will advise him not to count any chickens, no matter how big a favourite he is with the bookies. In 2011, he was four clear and shot a final-round 80. But he was very young then. Maybe a bigger warning came in 2016, when Jordan Spieth – the last defending champion to hold the lead after two rounds – was five clear and lost it to Danny Willett around Amen Corner. Augusta can be dramatic and, as Reed said, this course is drying out and will claim victims. But McIlroy is so well-placed and appears in stupendous nick.
World No 1 Scheffler is 12 behind after a 74 and needs a McIlroy collapse and his own charge. There are so many in front of him and in the top 12 and this thrillingly includes five Great Britain and Ireland players. Tyrrell Hatton hit every green in regulation in his own 66, a feat only achieved three times in the past 30 years. The LIV golfer played in the morning and thought he had thrust himself into contention on four-under. Maybe he has. But even this far out, it is McIlroy’s to lose. “Rory has a commanding lead and it’s up to him what happens,” Fleetwood said.
As McIlroy was finishing off, Bryson DeChambeau, one of other favourites coming in here, was exiting the premises. He was inside the cutline playing the last but he carved it into the trees, then found the bunker and then left it in there on his way to a seven to miss by two. Brutal.
Rory McIlroy striding out in front
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— Kyle Porter (@KylePorterNS) April 10, 2026Jack
Tiger
Hogan
Player
Watson
Snead
PalmerIf Rory wins this weekend, those are the only seven golfers who will have won more majors than him since World War II.
— Justin Ray (@JustinRayGolf) April 10, 2026Most rounds of 65 or better in men's majors since first Masters held in 1934
Rory McIlroy, 10 (including today)
Tiger Woods, 10
Dustin Johnson, 10
Jack Nicklaus, 9
Tom Watson, 9
Rory McIlroy speaks to Sky Sports - ‘It was one of those afternoons’
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On whether he’s surprised to be so far in the lead...
“Um, I don’t know. I was really good with the wedges today. I’ve been really good with my wedges and my short game the past two days. That’s been the bulk of my score. I haven’t panicked when I’ve hit it offline and into trees. I’ve laid it up. I’ve relied on those wedges and those scoring clubs. And this course, it enables you to get on runs. I certainly didn’t imagine birdies in six of the last seven, but I’ve always felt like when you’re feeling it around here, you can get momentum and the crowd gets on your side and you can just keep it rolling. And this afternoon was one of those afternoons.”
On his previous love-hate relationship with the Masters...
“Look, I’ve always loved this tournament. I’ve always loved this golf course, even when I felt like it didn’t love me back. And look, it’s such a pleasure to be here. It’s a unique tournament. There’s nothing else like this that we play. And I so desperately wanted to win here just so I could come back each and every year. And thankfully, I was able to do that last year. So doing that, yeah, when I miss fairways, it’s fine. When I miss greens, it’s fine. I feel like I’m sort of playing with the house’s money, which is a nice feeling to have.”
On the record-breaking second round...
“I did a good job. I hit more fairways today than I did yesterday, so that was good. That was one of my key goals today, was just to try to get it in play a little bit more. And yeah, I think, again, just making good decisions. Really, the way the golf course is playing, you really have to think your way around, creating angles for yourself to hit these third shots into par fives, stuff like that.”
On what he needs to do at the weekend...
“So if I can just keep thinking well and making good decisions with whatever’s put in front of me and really just keep putting one foot in front of the other, hopefully do that for the weekend and hopefully everything works out.”
Before today the largest lead at the Masters after 36 holes was five shots
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Prior to today the largest lead at the Masters after 36 holes had been five shots:
- Harry Cooper (139), 1936 (2nd)
- Herman Keiser (137), 1946 (winner)
- Jack Nicklaus (135), 1975 (winner)
- Raymond Floyd (131), 1976 (winner)
- Jordan Spieth (130), 2015 (winner)
- Scottie Scheffler (136), 2022 (winner)
Rory has a six-shot lead after 36 holes
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Brilliant, imperious, I could continue with a multitude of superlatives but I’ll let you choose your own.
McIlroy sinks the six-foot putt to move to 12 under, a six-shot lead. That’s the largest 36-hole lead, and his 12 under is three shots better than the next best 36-hole score by a defending champion.
What was once a love-hate relationship between Rory and Augusta is now an adoration. He birdied the last four holes and it’s his to lose.
Another peach of an iron
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Rory’s drive at the last leaves him with 147 yards uphill. A nine iron takes us back in time as it flies over the pin and spins back to a few feet, a la during the play-off last year. He’ll have that six-footer to go to 12 under and a record-breaking six-shot lead after 36 holes.
— Justin Ray (@JustinRayGolf) April 10, 2026Rory McIlroy to 11-under.
The best 36-hole score in Masters history by a defending champion is 9-under by Ian Woosnam in 1992.
One arm in the Green Jacket
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We might just have watched the decisive hour of this tournament as Rory McIlroy reels off a third straight birdie, and his fifth in six holes, to establish a five-shot lead and place one hand on a second straight Green Jacket. He looks imperious, raising his wedge to the evening sky as he chips in at the 17th. It felt like the height of romanticism when I predicted earlier this week that he would win back-to-back titles. Now it seems highly likely, with McIlroy poised to tie the record 36-hole Masters lead.
Rory is a good frontrunner
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It’s how he won his first major at Congressional, and free from the ‘why haven’t you won a Green Jacket?’ soap opera he is freewheeling on one of the toughest courses there is. Augusta always ‘suited his game’ - that statement has never been truer than now.
Possibly a bit too soon but...
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...This is Rory’s to lose. He can walk on water right now. I go all a bit hyperbolic because he’s only just gone and chipped in at the 17th. He was (not for the first time these first two days) out of position off the tee, again in the trees. His second leaves him to the right of the green well away from the pin. Not that that bothers him, he plays a low runner that as soon as it was within 10 feet never looked as though it was going anywhere but the bottom of the cup.
He’s now at 11 under and has a five-shot lead. Remarkable.
DeChambeau was one of the favourites
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But the LIV poster boy, YouTube content creator and fine golfer will not be playing this weekend. He triple bogeys the last, when a bogey would have seen him make the cut (four over). It’s a hole that sums up his tournament. He’s wayward off the tee, finding the tress on the right, before hitting into the front bunker. From there he takes two to escape the sand trap (not the three it took on the 11th yesterday...). Once out of the bunker his ball trickles off the green and he ultimately takes a seven.
He ends on six over and his race is well and truly run.
This will sting having come into the tournament with high expectations.
Rory on the charge
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He’s now at 10 under, with a four-shot lead. He sinks the putt at 16, it was three feet, not the one-footer I thought. He’s playing with freedom, unburdened by Augusta failures of the past and is putting on a show, and that’s without, I reckon, getting out of third gear.
Fleetwood also bogeys the last
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He, too, was out of position off the tee and he has to be content with carding a four-under 68 rather than a 67. He’s five under and very much part of the conversation heading into the weekend.
Meanwhile...
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Two holes ahead Reed bogeys the last. His drive ended in the trees on the right. His second was a lovely low punch to just short of the front of the green and he, even with his short game brilliance, was unable to get up and down.
He’s back to six under, having carded a three-under 69, and three back of McIlroy’s lead.
Rory now with a great chance to move to 10 under
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His tee shot at the par-three 16th is right of the pin and take the slope ending a foot or so from the cup.
Rory birdies the 15th
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His third shot made that - having had to lay up his pitch was almost perfect, landing it right of the flag and leaving him a breaking 10-footer. He’s been brilliant with putts that just need to die into the hole and once again McIlroy displays a lovely touch with the putter. He’s at nine under, again with a two-shot lead.
Cam Young his playing partner makes his fourth birdie in a row and after a poor day yesterday, the highly fancied American is at four under, having started on one over.
— Kyle Porter (@KylePorterNS) April 10, 2026Rory …
Par 5 fairways hit: 0
Par 5 birdies made: 7
Patrick Reed hasn’t...
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...missed a putt within five feet so far this tournament. He’s got a great short game and it’s no shock he contends regularly at Augusta.
Strong finish from Lowry
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Two birdies in the last three holes, including one at the last, means he goes into the weekend on five under. Another good day - a 69 to go with yesterday’s 70 and he’s well in the mix ahead of moving day.
Reed birdies 17
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A peach of an approach shot send the ball over the pin and leaves him a downhill putt that just needs to be tickled into the cup. He’s at seven under, one behind Rory.
Get the popcorn ready
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Rory McIlroy has so many tantalising potential partners this weekend, should he maintain the advantage. His antagonism with Patrick Reed has passed into folklore, after their skirmishes at the Ryder Cup and in Dubai. Might we see a revisit of last year’s duel with Justin Rose before this tournament ends? Or how about a head-to-head with Shane Lowry, his close friend and the man into whose arms he fell after his triumph 12 months ago? Difficult to imagine a better leaderboard.
Schauffele back to two under
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The American carded three bogeys in a row from the 12th and having lurked with intent fell well back into the chasing pack. He’s just birdied the 15th and moving back in the right direction.
Bouncebackability
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— Justin Ray (@JustinRayGolf) April 10, 2026Rory's birdie at 13 was the 37th time he's made birdie or better on a par five at Augusta National after missing the fairway.
That's the most of any player since the first time he did it back in 2012.
Great lag putting
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Allows Rory to escape with a par. He stays at eight under. He may be a bit disappointed as his 315-yard drive left him a wedge in...but his bad shots, such as the approach at 11, aren’t punishing him today, and at three-under for the round he has not reason to be a glass-half-empty man.
Rory has 109 to the pin at the 14th
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But as soon as he hits it he knows it’s not great. “Go, GO!” he cries and while it makes the green it slopes way right. He’ll have a long two putt for par.
Rory back to eight under
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He sinks his seven-footer at the 13th for the birdie and the lead is back to two.
One of those on six under is his co-leader from the first round. Sam Burns birdied 17 and 18 to card a one-under 71.
Fleetwood may need a new mantelpiece
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That’s because the Green Jackets at Augusta National are wealthy enough (they are every rich indeed...they are hush hush about membership, but I’ll wager at least a fiver that there are no bus drivers who are members...) to give a piece of crystal to everyone who makes an eagle.
Well, Tommy has just got his second of the round. Having carded a three at the eighth the Englishman wearing MC Hammer trousers has eagled the 15th. He had 237 yards for his second and he fired it to 16 feet and made no mistake with the putter.
He’s now at six under, joint second...this is getting tasty.
Rory has 141 to the pin at 13th
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It’s his third and its exquisitely executed. He fires it three yards left of the flag and lets the slope do the rest. He’ll have about a seven-footer for birdie.
Par for Reed at 15
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He found a gap after his duck-hook drive. And does well to card a five. He stays at six under.
Great up and down from Day
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It’s come at the par-three 16th. His tee shot more than flirted with the water and he was lucky to find the bunker - a horrid tee shot from a pro...but he shows a softer touch than a feather floating on the breeze and chips from the sand to within an inch. The Australian stays at five under, two back of Rory.
Two poor tee shots
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(i) From Rory, who blocks his drive at the 13th into the trees. He should have a good look for a simple lay up.
(ii) From Reed, who duck hooks his drive at the 15th. His is way off the line and he’ll have a bit of guess work as to how he can get back onto the fairway, another lay up on a par five.
Fleetwood with a great par-save at the 14th
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He’s had a few of those today - the fourth and 11th spring to mind...he sinks a downhill seven-footer and stays at four-under. He’s level par for the back nine, which he’ll definitely take having returned in three over.
While Rory was moving back to seven under...
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...Reed was firing in a great approach to the 14th. He’ll have a good look at birdie to join McIlroy at seven under.
Rory regains the lead
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McIlroy does indeed drain the birdie put - as do both his playing partners, Cam Young and Mason Howell (how many times does that happen?!) - and the defending champion is back to seven under.
Here’s that brilliant tee shot from Howell.
Rory is standing on the 12th tee
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He’s parred the 11th and remains so-leader at six under.
What can he do at Golden Bell?
It’s 156 yards to the pin and McIlroy follows Mason Howell, the amateur, who nearly holes his. Rory takes a pitching wedge and fires it to within six feet. Good birdie chance to get back to seven under.
Day is back to five under
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Thanks to birdie at the 14th. He fired his approach to eight feet and one of the best putters of this century wasn’t going to miss from there. He has a fine record at Augusta and is definitely a contender.
How to play the 12th
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It’s the most-famous par three in the world and Reed played it perfectly.
Rory had a great chance to...
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...put distance between himself and the field, having fired three birdies from the second to the fourth. Since then, however, he’s been sloppy and he’s dropped his second shot to move back to six under. The latest error has come at the 10th. His approach found the right greenside bunker and the resulting chip wasn’t at all bad. The short putt, however, wasn’t’ great, lipping out.
He’s now co-leader with Reed, his old nemesis....
Schauffele was making a move but...
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...He’s bogeyed the 11th having found the trees on the left from the tee, and followed that up with another blemish at Golden Bell, the par three everyone wants to play. His tee shot found the front bunker, he took two to get out and having been at four under is back to two under.
Patrick Reed is more than lurking with intent
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The 2018 champion has birdied the par-three 12th, to move to six under, one shot back of McIlroy. He fired his tee shot from 155 yards right at the pin, and bravery this time did indeed favour the brave, he was left with a 10-foot putt which never flirted with the idea of staying above ground. A Rory vs Reed battle over the weekend? We’ve seen a few ding-dongs (on and off the course) between that pair before.
Par for Rory at the ninth
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His breaking downhill birdie putt thought momentarily about dropping but it straightened in the last two feet. He’s seven under at the turn, still two ahead.
Also at four under is...
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...Norway’s Kristoffer Reitan. The 28-year-old, making his debut at Augusta, has fired in a hat-trick of birdies at 12, 13 and 14. It’s been 47 years since Fuzzy Zoeller was the last debutant to go home wearing a Green Jacket, Reitan is just three shots off the lead.
Two big names join the four-under club
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They are Fleetwood and Schauffele. They have both parred the 10th and are lurking with intent.
Jason Day is back to four under
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That’s down to a bogey at the treacherous 11th. His approach looked right at the front-left pin but half a yard right. That left him an awkward up and down (having shortsided himself) and he was unable to execute.
Rory has to be happy with a five at the eighth
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His drive found the bunker and from then on he was scrambling. His third went long, but a very good lag putt from 16 yards, that looked as though it was going to drop, means he stays at seven under, still with a two-shot lead.
Not seen much of Fitzpatrick today
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Until now that is...that’s because he’s just drained a downhill 35ft putt at the ninth to move to one over. That goes nicely with the birdie at the eighth. He’s moving in the right direction.
His playing partner DeChambeau is also moving towards the red numbers. He’s birdied the seventh and eighth to move to three over.
Haotong Li is on some streak
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The Chinese hero has birdied 12, 13, 14 and 15 to move to four under. He came within an inch of aceing the par-three 16th and he’s the hottest man on the course right now.
Jason Day and Patrick Reed are at five under
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And joint second with Justin Rose. They both birdied the eighth, with Day, who has five top 10s at Augusta, also gaining a shot at the ninth. Both like this course and both are definitely possible winners come Sunday evening.
Tap-in par for Rory at the seventh
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He stays at seven under with the par-five eighth to come.
On 17 and 18 Scheffler had two good birdie chances
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But the world No 1 was unable to grab either of them as he walks off the last having carded a two-over 74. Those last two holes sum up his round, having been two over through five he was unable to get going. He’s seven back of the lead heading into the weekend.
His playing partner, Bobby MacIntyre, was strongly fancied after finishing runner-up in Texas last week. But his tournament is over having ended up on seven over. His first-round 80 doing all the damage.
Hatton speaks to Sky Sports - ‘There was a lot of good golf today’
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On the bogey at the last...
“I’m pretty disappointed standing here right now. I’d have loved to have at least made par on the last, but there was a lot of good golf today. Yeah, making seven birdies out there is not an easy thing to do.”
On the course and hopes for the weekend...
“I definitely feel like the course played a little bit easier this morning. I guess they watered the greens quite a bit yesterday. It certainly was a tough afternoon in round one, but yeah, happy with how I played and hopefully I can play well this weekend.”
Did I say Rose loves Augusta?
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— Justin Ray (@JustinRayGolf) April 10, 2026This would be the 23rd time Justin Rose has been in the top-5 following a round at the Masters.
Since 2000, only Phil Mickelson and Tiger Woods have more.
Oh Tommy, Tommy
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Fleetwood eagles the par-five eighth. His 256-yard approach left him a 19-footer, which he drained. He’s back to three under and looking good, even if he is wearing some MC Hammer trousers.
Poor putt from Rory
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Once again McIlroy proves he is human. He’s been putting beautifully but he pulls this birdie attempt at the par-three sixth. He should make par though to stay at seven under.
Rory is back to seven under
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That’s because of a bogey at the tough par-four fifth. His drive left him in the perfect spot, with 168 yards to the pin. But, shock horror, the defending champion proves he’s human by blocking his approach and shortsiding himself. He’s unable to get up and down and the lead is back to two.
Rose heads into the weekend on five under
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He two putts the last to card a three-under 69, brilliant considering he didn’t really get going after the opening bogey. His playing partner Brooks Koepka has also had a good round. He lies on three under after also firing a 69.
Rose, you suspect, will be more than happy with how things stand. He’s in second place and only a runaway Rory has played better than him these first two days.
We’ve not seen anything of DeChambeau
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Which is a shame as Butch Harmon is on commentary and I love how he pronounces it Deeeeeeee Sham Bow (with particular emphasis on the B...).
Anyway, the reason we’ve seen nothing of the YouTube content creator since his opening bogey is because his round is going nowhere fast. He birdied the third to get back to four over but has just bogeyed the sixth and lies on five over.
Tyrrell, it might never happen...
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I absolutely love Tyrrell Hatton. Hits seven birdies, 18 greens in regulation, and looks as if he could murder someone after three-putting the last.
While Rory moved to eight under
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Scheffler dropped to level par...that’s because of a bogey (his second in three holes) at the 15th. He found the watery grave beyond the green and was unable to get up and down from there.
Three in a row!
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Rory is on fire, to borrow an overused, unoriginal sporting cliché...(my humble apologies...). He sinks the 22-footer at the fourth to move to eight under. He now has a three-shot lead and it’s hard to see what or who derails this round and McIlroy. The monkey is off his back and, at the moment, he’s freewheeling Augusta and making it look easy. Remarkable.
Great tee shot at the fourth
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From Rory, in the air it would have looked perfect, but it just takes the down slope and it leaves him a breaking 22-footer while it would have looked like a hole-in-one from the tee box. He’ll have that for another birdie.
Hatton may have found the green in regulation at 18
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But it was a long, downhill putt and it takes him three goes to find the bottom of the cup. He drops a shot to end on four under, a round of 66. A great round nonetheless and he’s right in the mix going into moving day.
More water for Scheffler
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Since being three under through three yesterday nothing has gone right for the world No 1. His second at the par-five 15th is long, long enough to find the water over the green, by the3 16th tee...oh dear.
Not hard to work out the secret to Hatton’s round
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He’s found the green at 18, albeit leaving him a long downhiller for birdie, meaning he joins this list...
— Justin Ray (@JustinRayGolf) April 10, 2026Players to hit all 18 greens in regulation in a Masters round, last 30 years:
2009 Jim Furyk
2020 Kevin Na
2026 Tyrrell Hatton
Perfection from Rory
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He’s now at seven under after a birdie at the third. He took driver at the short par four and his approach was stiffed to three feet. He’s looking so calm and in control out there that it’s hard to see him blowing up from here...but this is Augusta, a course that will bear its teeth, so will keep my mouth shut...
When will Hatton blow up?
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He’s played brilliantly today, seven under through 17 to be at five under for the tournament. If he can keep his emotions/frustrations in check, you never know...
But, here he is on his relationship with Augusta National.
Great up and down from Rose at the 15th
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The chip was downhill and any error would have brought the water into play. But the Englishman displayed a delicate touch and he joins Burns and Hatton at five under.
No sooner had I pressed ‘send’ on that last post...
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...than Rory birdies the second to move to six under. The five-foot putt was quick but proved no problem for the defending champion who looks like calmness personified.
Hatton misses a birdie putt at 17
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On the low side it was. He and Rory are meanwhile joined by Sam Burns at the top of the leaderboard after the American birdies the seventh.
Rory with a great chance of birdie at the second
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His drive found the bunker forcing him to lay up. His third, from 134 yards, flies over the pin and spins back to within about five feet.
Scheffler drops another shot
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His par putt at 13 - from 8ft - was always right and the world No 1 now lies at one under.
Rose over the water in two at 15
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But it’s long and he’ll have a very interesting chip down the hill for his third...
Scheffler in the drink at 13
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He went for the green in two and found a watery grave. His fourth gives him a chance of a par.
Rory is no longer sole leader
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That’s because Hatton has birdied 15 and 16 to move to five under. The Marmite Englishman is seven under for the round, illustrating that despite the tricky pin positions and drying-out greens the course can be got at.
Rose misses a good chance at the 14th
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Having told the crowd (sorry, the patrons...) to be quiet (a rarity: slightly boisterous Augusta) he sticks his approach to 4ft...however, he misses the putt and stays at four under.
Shades of Rory at the Ryder Cup last autumn in the way Rose just stuck that to within a couple of feet after shushing the crowd.
Rory starts with a par
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He didn’t flirt with the idea of going for the pin sending his approach to the heart of the green before a regulation two putt. He stays at five under, but is now sole leader as Sam Burns has dropped a shot at the par-four fifth.
Fleetwood birdies the second
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Again, we didn’t see any of it, but the Englishman is back to one under. His second to the par-five found the right bunker, but he was able to get it up and down, sinking a 9ft putt, to get his round up and running.
We’re not seeing much of Hatton
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He remains at three under having parred 12, 13 and 14. Birdie opportunity (avoiding the water pending) coming up at the 15th.
Rory’s round is under way
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And he’s carried the bunkers on the left in much the same way as in the third round last year, when he registered six threes in a row...an omen? He’ll certainly hope so.
You suspect, such is the faltering form of major rivals DeChambeau and Scheffler, that McIlroy will be well aware that a 70 today will do rather nicely.
Or perhaps something in the 60s...
— Justin Ray (@JustinRayGolf) April 10, 2026No defending Masters champion has started the week with consecutive rounds in the 60s since Ian Woosnam in 1992.
Rory McIlroy would like to join him today.
Rose stays at four under
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He’s just parred the par-five 13th - a birdie hole for most (bar when golfers bite off more than they can chew and walk off with doubles...) - he laid up and was unable to get up and down. But he’s just one off the lead and still in fine shape thank to those back-to-back birdies at the 10th and 11th (the second of which we saw nothing of on Sky coverage...)
It’s fair to say...
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...that DeChambeau hasn’t had the ideal start to his second round. He’s bogeyed the first having found the bunker off the tee, his second, over the higher lip, doesn’t make the green and he’s unable to get up and down. He’s now at five over...the cut is three over at the moment.
His playing partner Matt Fitzpatrick fares better walkng off with a par to stay at two over.
We’ve not seen much of Sam Burns
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He’s only the co-leader after all...anyway, he’s parred the first three holes to stay at five under, but he’s got a tricky par putt at the par-three fourth.
Harry Hall is on a run
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A run of four birdies in a row from the 11th...he was through Amen Corner in three under (not many can say that...) and adds another birdie at the 14th. He’s now at three over (he began the day on five over and was through the turn at seven over) and looking good to stay for the weekend on his first Masters. The projected cut at the moment is three over.
Having just posted that...
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...Rose then misses a five-footer for par and is back to four under.
Is this Rose’s lucky year?
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Going on what I’ve just seen at the 12th, it just might be...his tee shot at the famous par three is long, as in beyond the light ‘rough’ and heading deep into the flowers and foliage long. But before he has to contemplate a trip into the jungle and a shot that would test Tiger at his best, a rake intervenes. The ball hits the rake sending it back towards the green. He’ll still have a far-from-regulation up and down for par, but it’s a lot better than it could have been.
Wyndham Clark ends on four under
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Pars at the 17th and 18th leave him at four under for a 68, the best round of the day.
Shane Lowry birdies the first
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The Irishman had 141 yards to the pin and fired in his approach to 11ft. He made no mistake with the flat stick and he’s at three under.
Patrick Reed and Tommy Fleetwood are off
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They get their second rounds under way. The Marmite American finds the fairway, while Fleetwood finds the right bunker.
Fleetwood’s front nine was great (four under), his back nine, not so much. He starts at one under and in an outfit that screams 1990s - the colours are brown and beige and the trousers are baggy enough for MC Hammer to consider wearing them...
Hope for Hatton
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— Justin Ray (@JustinRayGolf) April 10, 2026Tyrrell Hatton has 5 birdies today through 12 holes.
He has never made more than 6 birdies or better in any major championship round.
To be fair to Faldo...
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...he’s being quite interesting about McIlroy, saying that the way the course is playing he doesn’t need to go in search of birdies. “If he shoots one under in each of the next three days he’ll be right in there.”
Nick Faldo is talking on Sky
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And he’s not talking about himself! There’s a break in coverage (hence the chat between “NF” and Nick Dougherty so while we wait for more pictures from Augusta here’s the dictionary definition of ‘monster drive’.
— Rick Golfs (@Top100Rick) April 10, 2026The longest drive yesterday?
401 yards!!!
And it wasn't Rory or Knapp or Bryson.
It was Michael Brennan.
The 2030 golf ball rollback is supposed to take 10 yards away. Good because 390 would be so different. 😂🙄
pic.twitter.com/tfRe9Cn6xS
Rose and Hatton continue on birdie train
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Both Englishmen make their birdie putts at 10 and 12 respectively and move to four under and three under.
Hatton isn’t a huge fan of Augusta (not sure there’s any course he doesn’t get annoyed with and shout at...) but after today, perhaps, he might crack and smile and admit that, maybe, it’s not a bad track...?
Hatton with a peach of a tee shot at the 12th
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He fires his mid-iron from 154 yards below the hole to within 8ft. He’ll have that to move to three under over all and five under for the round. Impressive.
Rose is back on his game
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He’s got a tap-in birdie at the 10th and that will be his third birdie in four holes and will move him back to four under. On a day when scoring is going to be tough - the greens and course are drying out - anyone around the five/six under tonight will be very happy indeed.
Scheffler birdies the eighth
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It’s his first birdie since the third yesterday and comes just when he needs it. He’s at one under while MacIntyre, his playing partner, stays at seven over, he was able to navigate the ball through the trees and escape without dropping back to eight over.
Rose back to three under
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He sinks the birdie putt at the ninth and is two off the lead. Back nine scoring opportunities (and pitfalls) to come...
You feel Scheffler needs...
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...a birdie at the par-five eighth, for momentum and mood as much as anything else. He’s safely on the green in two and will have a look at eagle. Meanwhile, playing partner Bobby MacIntyre’s second is a horrid low slice into the trees, he’s fought back well, but he’s in trouble at the moment.
Great approach from Rose at the ninth
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He fires in his short iron under the hole to within about 20ft. The one thing they say about the ninth green is you do not want a downhill putt, the green is steeper than the bill at a three-star Michelin restaurant.
Here’s stat
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Scottie Scheffler is without a birdie since the third yesterday...there was a reason not many were fancying him to do well this weekend. He manages a decent up and down at the seventh to stay at level par
Clark finding his major mojo
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Wyndham Clark is not universally beloved. Last year at the US Open he destroyed an Oakmont locker and did not display enough contrition for everyone’s liking. And in the par three competition on Wednesday he quipped live on air that seeing all the children of his fellow players running around the greens was “the perfect birth control”.
But the 2023 US Open champion is seemingly rediscovering his major mojo. He finished fourth at last year’s Open – his only top 30 in the majors since his LA Country Club glory – and is one off the lead here, with two to play. Clark is four-under for the day and the tournament and reminding everyone of the quality he possesses.
Hatton making a move
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The Englishman isn’t everyone’s cup of tea (or should that be tee...anyway...) and once again he wasn’t shy in letting his emotions be obvious to all yesterday. However, the LIV golfer is four under for his round (through nine), a fourth birdie without any blemishes has moved him to two under. Who knows, he may even crack a smile soon...
More woe for Scheffler
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Thanks to Kieran for taking on most of the front nine, Greg Wilcox here to take you to the the turn and through the back nine, so to speak...
Scheffler’s not been on his game today and once again a wayward iron leaves him scratching his head. This one’s come at the seventh and has left him in the frontside bunker with not much room to work with.
Meanwhile, Rose is at the eighth and he chips on to leave himself an eight-footer for birdie.
Big birdie for Rose
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It has been a frustrating day thus far for Justin Rose, who through his first six holes had five pars and a bogey. However, he drains a lengthy birdie putt on the seventh to improve to -2, where he started the day. Some much-needed momentum for Rose.
Not such a good hole for Koepka, who drops a shot to move back to one under to stop his good momentum.
Moving backwards
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It has not been a good start to the second round for Scottie Scheffler. The 2022 and 2024 Masters champion made a bogey at the fourth and has done so at the fifth. His second shot missed the green and was lucky it was not worse before a few poor putts leave him walking away from the fifth with a bogey to drop him back to even par, having started the day at two under.
One step forward, one step back
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After making birdie on the eighth, Aaron Rai then makes a bogey on the ninth to hit the turn at one under, four shots off the lead. Fellow Englishman Marco Penge, on his Masters debut, is making moves as his second birdie of the day moves him to two over through four holes.
Another putt slides by
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Having found the centre of the green with his tee shot on the par-three sixth, Justin Rose cannot drain the birdie putt. Another par keeps him at one under.
Will Brooks Koepka take his birdie chance? No. It comes up just short and the American has to stay at -2.
Birdie for Rai
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The Englishman’s birdie putt on the par-five eighth creeps in to move him to two under. Another Englishman making good moves is Tyrrell Hatton, whose birdie on seven now has him at one under, having started the day at two over.
Back at the fourth, Scottie Scheffler has a tricky putt to save par but it slides by the right edge. That bogey drops the world No1 to one under, one over for the day.
Projected cut
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Still plenty of golf to come today but right now that cut line is hovering around the three/four-over mark.
Salvaging a par
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Boy did Justin Rose have to work for a four at the fifth. His tee shot went right, which meant he could not go for the green in two as he just had to hack out of the trees with no real backlift. His third shot though is sublime, from around 170 yards, leaving him a pretty simple par putt. Rose remains at one under.
Brooks Koepka found the centre of the green in two before having just enough on the putt to make birdie to move to two under.
Making progress
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Jon Rahm made a birdie on the second and has now made birdie on five to improve to four over. The Spaniard was uncharacterstically poor yesterday but looks much better today.
Another man who really struggled yesterday was Bob MacIntyre, who currently sits at +10, but looks set to get a shot back on the short par-four third.
Missed opportunity
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Oh so close for Justin Rose! He has a makeable birdie putt on four but it narrowly slides by the right edge so he stays at one under.
Meanwhile back at the second, Gary Woodland’s inaccuracy with that terrible second shot is punished as he walks away with a second. Bob MacIntyre should have made a birdie but misses a short putt. He stays at +10.
Can Rose make some moves?
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Justin Rose is one-over through three holes, one-under for the tournament, and trying to avoid another average Friday at The Masters. As good as the Englishman is in the first round - he has held or shared the lead on a record five occasions - his performance is bafflingly prone to fall away in the second round. In 20 Masters, he has broken 70 nine times on the opening day - and not once on the second day. His average score for the first round in 70.5 - and for the second it is 72.7. That does not make much sense, but for now the veteran can but try to buck the trend.
Birdie chance
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Justin Rose’s tee shot at the par-three fourth is good, not far past the pin, but the ball looked reluctant to come back down the hill towards the hill. Still, a shot at birdie incoming.
Meanwhile back at the second, Gary Woodland is in trouble. His second is wild, going so far right that it ends up on the third fairway. That means he cannot reach the green with his third and then his fourth shot is not the best, so he will be struggling to make par.
Movement into the red
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Two Americans have already gone from even par to one under. Both Justin Thomas and Brooks Koepka are up to one under, four shots off the lead. On the second, Koepka made a birdie, which included hitting a driver off the deck for his second shot.
Telling off incoming?
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I am not sure the Augusta National greenkeepers will be too impressed by Englishman Harry Hall using a wedge on the green at five. It looked a very tricky putt but his chip gives him what should be a fairly simple par putt. However, the putt slides by and Hall drops back to six over.
Wyndham Clark’s momentum stunted
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It was the dream start for the American, who moved from even par to -3 after just four holes, but his momentum has stalled. After a series of pars, he has bogeyed the 10th to drop to two under, but he is still within three of the leaders.
Back-to-back
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Tyrrell Hatton has backed up his birdie at the second with another birdie at the third to move to even par. His compatriot Aaron Rai has missed a par putt on the fifth and drops back to one under.
Strife for Bob
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After a dismal opening round, Scot Robert MacIntyre would have been looking for a positive start to his second round as he looks to make the weekend. He found the greenside bunker with his second shot and his effort from the bunker was not the best, which is going to mean a tricky, lengthy par putt. His mood has got even worse as not only has he missed the par putt but also missed the bogey putt. It is a double bogey for the Scot, who now drops to +10.
Scottie Scheffler has started with a par to remain at two under.
Slightly more positive for Rahm
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The 2023 Masters champion had a miserable day yesterday, carding a six-over round of 78, but has made birdie on the par-five second to improve to five over.
Ludvig Aberg, playing alongside Rahm, also made birdie on two to move to one over.
World No1 tees off
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Scottie Scheffler is on the first tee and starts his second round at two under. He fades it nicely from left to right and finds the middle of the fairway.
Bob MacIntyre had a very tough day yesterday, carding an eight-over round of 80, but starts the day by finding the middle of the fairway like Scheffler.
Gary Woodland (-1) makes it all three tee shots on the fairway, just holding onto the left side.
Birdie for Tyrrell Hatton
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The Englishman started his day at two over but has made a birdie at the par-five second to improve to one over. Meanwhile things are not going so well for Sergio Garcia, who has dropped two shots in his first four holes to fall back to two over.
Back at the first tee...
Reprimand
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Robert MacIntyre tees off in a matter of minutes alongside world No1 Scottie Scheffler and Gary Woodland.
As predicted by Telegraph Sport on Friday night, Bob MacIntyre was given a reprimand for putting up his middle finger to the pond on the 15th during his first round. The Scotsman, which has close ties to the Oban left-hander, is reporting that he was reminded about the tournament’s code of conduct by an official straight after his 80. MacIntyre’s language was also picked out for criticism on the broadcasts, particularly when he yelled “Jesus f***” after one poor shot on Amen Corner. Looking on, devout Christian Scottie Scheffler cannot have been impressed.
Bogeys at the first
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Rose’s first putt is certainly not his best and this will be a tricky putt to save his par. The effort slides by the right edge and Rose drops a shot back to one under. Not the start he was after.
Koepka also drops a shot. Spieth was in the fairway bunker off the tee but a good second shot to the middle of the green gave him a birdie shot which he took to move to one under.
On the first
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Rose’s tee shot has ended up giving him a trick second shot from 125 yards out. He has to go lower with the trajectory on the shot as he is in the trees but it is a tremendous effort. It just rolls off the back of the green but he will take that from where he was. It will be a very outside chance of a birdie but he should walk off with no worse than a par.
Rose’s compatriot Rai, also on two under, had a birdie shot at the third to move to -3 but the putt did not drop.
Justin Rose on the tee
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The 45-year-old Englishman has come so close on a number of occasions at Augusta National so could this year finally be his? He has already won on the PGA Tour so far this season at the Farmers Insurance Open and starts his second round at two under. His opening tee shot is a bit leaky out to the right but fortunately for him just evades the fairway bunkers.
Jordan Spieth (E) did find those aforementioned bunkers whilst Brooks Koepka (E) just misses the fairway to the left.
On his best behaviour?
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It will be fascinating to study Bob MacIntyre’s demeanour when he tees off in the next half-hour. His middle-finger gesture and blasphemous profanities throughout a first-round 80 will not have been received well by the Green Jackets, never mind playing partner Scottie Scheffler, one of the most devout men in golf. You imagine the combustible Scot will be more restrained this time. Augusta National never publicise any punishments or rebukes, but the word is that he spent longer than usual in the recorder’s hut after his round.
Work to do
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Jon Rahm, who many tipped to have a strong week before the tournament started, begins his second round at six-over-par and has a huge job on his hands just to make the weekend. Not the start off the tee that Rahm wanted as he misses the fairway to the left. Is that a bad omen for his round? Ludvig Aberg also has work to do at two over whilst Chris Gotterup, a two-time winner on the PGA Tour so far this season, is at even par.
Meanwhile up at the second Aaron Rai has birdied the par-five second to move to two under, three off the lead.
Plenty of eyes on upcoming groups
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The trio of Tyrrell Hatton, Maverick McNealy and J. J. Spaun have just begun their second rounds. Over the next 20 minutes, we have these groups to look forward to:
14:43 Ludvig Aberg, Chris Gotterup, Jon Rahm
14:55 Brooks Koepka, Justin Rose, Jordan Spieth
Jon Rahm had a shocker yesterday and starts today at six over whereas Justin Rose begins his second round at two under.
Solid start for Aaron Rai
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The Englishman is aiming to create history this week as he seeks to become the first man to win the Par 3 Contest and the main tournament in the same week. The man from Wolverhampton came into today at one under and has made a par at the first. He is playing alongside American Jacob Bridgeman, who has bogeyed the first to drop to even par, and 2017 Masters champion Sergio Garcia, who is even par.
Fewest opening rounds in the 60s at the Masters since 2010
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It was not easy going for the players in round one yesterday, with just 16 players under par but only a handful of those managed to register a score in the 60s. Only three editions of the Masters since 2010 have seen fewer players hit the 60s in the opening round:
2017- 2
2021- 3
2014- 4
2026- 5
Firm and fast
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The key question as far as the course goes at this Masters is how much do the ‘Greenjackets’ let the layout dry out? It could be a wild weekend if the greenstaff just permits nature to do its thing and bake this ground. I’ve been coming here for two decades and have never seen the weather allow for conditions that could be as fast as firm as Augusta National wants.
Back-to-back-to-back
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All the attention right now is on Wyndham Clark, who is on a charge at the start of this second. After birdies on two and three, he makes his way to the par-three fourth. He begs his ball to “Go, Go!” from the tee and his ball listens, ending up around 10 ft from the hole. Clark sinks the putt to move to three under and within two of the leaders. The 32-year-old from Denver does not have a good record at the Masters, with his best finish being a tie for 46th last year. He did though finish in a tie for fourth at The Open last year.
What to look forward to over the next hour
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Plenty of English interest in the groups heading out over the next 60 minutes. Aaron Rai and Justin Rose are both under par after the first round. Meanwhile there is work for the likes of Jon Rahm and Ludvig Aberg to do to make the weekend.
14:02 Jacob Bridgeman, Sergio Garcia, Aaron Rai
14:19 Michael Brennan, Corey Conners, Harry Hall
14:31 Tyrrell Hatton, Maverick McNealy, J. J. Spaun
14:43 Ludvig Aberg, Chris Gotterup, Jon Rahm
14:55 Brooks Koepka, Justin Rose, Jordan Spieth
15:07 Ben Griffin, Sepp Straka, Justin Thomas
Wyndham Clark on the rise
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The 2023 US Open champion started the day at even par but has made a storming start to his second round. A birdie at the second has been followed up by a birdie on the par-four third. Clark had 22ft for birdie on the shortish par four and he drains the putt. That puts him to two under, three shots off the lead. Whilst most players are struggling in the early stages of round two, Clark is bucking that trend and moving on up the leaderboard.
No running!
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Finally, a birdie!
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We have had to wait an hour but finally good news to report. The first birdie of the day has been registered by Canadian Mike Weir, the 2003 Masters champion. The leftie has made a birdie at the par-five second to move from nine over to eight over.
And now the birdies are flooding in. Like London buses, you wait ages for one and then lots come at once. Argentinian amateur Mateo Pulcini has also made birdie on the second to also move from nine to eight over.
Meanwhile much further up the leaderboard we have a new man into the red. That par-five second has generated another birdie with the 2023 US Open champion Wyndham Clark getting a birdie to improve to one under.
Where are the birdies?
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It has not been a flying start for those out on the course early in round two. We are still yet to see a birdie, with players either standing pat or dropping back, which includes Northern Irishman Tom McKibbin, who started the day three over but through two holes is now six over. McKibbin is another LIV player who has struggled thus far.
Former champion heading out
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2016 Masters champion Danny Willett is starting his second round and begins at four over, with work to do to make the weekend. Willett was the last Englishman to win the Masters, beating out Jordan Spieth and Lee Westwood to get his hands on the Green Jacket. Spieth infamously found the water twice inexplicably at the par-three 12th and Willett was there to pounce. Could we see an Englishman win this year? Justin Rose, Aaron Rai and Tommy Fleetwood are all currently under par, although Rai is attempting to overturn history as no-one has won the Par 3 Contest and the Masters tournament in the same year.
Weather set fair, again!
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Yesterday at Augusta National was beautiful and it will be the same day. Will we get through all four days without any rain?
Tommy Fleetwood, one under after the first round
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“I holed a couple of bonus putts really on three and four. And then I think I made a couple of good par saves on five and six, so it was just a nice accumulation of scoring early on. It was a tough day out there. I stumbled a bit. 10 was a bit unlucky, the ball was covered in mud in the fairway, got unlucky there and made a five. It was just tough. I felt like I hit three good shots (at 12) and came away with a four.
“16 was a poor iron shot, still had a chance for par. It was a great par on 17, that was the hole of the day for me. And then 18, I just got caught there with a rapid putt from the back, left it 10 feet short, dribble that one and it goes four feet past.
“It is a tough golf course, and as much as I feel like I stumbled really coming in. After a good a start, you want to get a little bit better out of a round like that, but it is just difficult. There are just going to be tough stretches throughout the week.”
2018 Masters champion Patrick Reed after his opening round of 69
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“Honestly, the two bogeys I had were actually quality golf shots. I got away with two poor golf shots, one on 17 and one on 18. Besides that, I felt like I played a lot better than the score today. I hit the ball pretty solid, gave myself a lot of good looks, and made a couple of putts.”
The groups over the next hour (UK time)
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13:02 Wyndham Clark, Mateo Pulcini (a), Mike Weir
13:14 Nicolai Hojgaard, Zach Johnson, Michael Kim
13:26 Ethan Fang (a), Davis Riley, Danny Willett
13:38 Daniel Berger, Brian Harman, Adam Scott
13:50 Fred Couples, Pongsapak Laopakdee (a), Min-Woo Lee
14:02 Jacob Bridgeman, Sergio Garcia , Aaron Rai
How Rory’s round unfolded
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A pretty consistent round from the defending champion, with just the one bogey and six birdies on his way to five under.
Off and running
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The first group of the day has got the second round going, with South Korea’s Sung-Jae Im and American Sam Stevens a two-ball to start the day.
Stevens’ drive just about misses the bunkers on the right side of the fairway. Im’s effort ends up in a very similar position, around 10 yards shorter than Stevens’ drive.
Naughty Bob!
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It was a horror first round for Robert MacIntyre, who is a huge 13 shots off the lead after carding an eight-over round of 80 yesterday. His mood was not helped by finding the water twice on the par-five 15th, which led to a gesture I suspect the Scot would want to take back!
Shane Lowry, two under after round one
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“I think this could be the toughest Masters we have played in a while. You look at the forecast; they can do whatever they want with the golf course this weekend.
“I think over the last few years we have had a day every year where it has been raining or it has been heavy rain. It has helped us a little bit, but I think before the week is out, it is going to get very, very crusty around here.”
Bryson’s woes
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It was a tough day for Bryson DeChambeau, who finished up on four over after round one. That rough first round included a triple bogey at the par-four 11th, where he had huge issues in the greenside bunker:
It was a tough day all around for plenty of LIV golfers, including Jon Rahm and Tyrrell Hatton.
Justin Rose on his two-under round of 70
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“I’m a little hot [after bogey, bogey finish] but I have got to look at the big picture. It was a good round of golf, and it felt like the course was playing quite challenging today. It was a day to be patient. I was doing a nice job of that, but then the course was getting a bit firmer towards the end of the day and I made a couple of poor mistakes.
“Small margins and I got it a little wrong on a couple of occasions but overall a pretty good start to the tournament and I can build on it. The lesson [from three previous runners-up finishes] is that I can win here. There is nothing I can say I need to massively do differently.
“It is just about in the moment finding that special shot. Until then it is doing what I am doing and not forcing a win.”
Have your say
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After his first round 67 yesterday, I suspect the number of votes for yes is going to increase dramatically. With the burden of the career Grand Slam off his back, it has surely freed Rory up, which is dangerous for everyone else.
Notable tee times to watch out for today (UK time)
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14:43 Ludvig Aberg, Chris Gotterup, Jon Rahm
14:55 Brooks Koepka, Justin Rose, Jordan Spieth
15:19 Robert MacIntyre, Scottie Scheffler, Gary Woodland
17:56 Jason Day, Dustin Johnson, Shane Lowry
18:08 Akshay Bhatia, Tommy Fleetwood, Patrick Reed
18:20 Bryson DeChambeau, Matthew Fitzpatrick, Xander Schauffele
18:32 Russell Henley, Hideki Matsuyama, Collin Morikawa
18:44 Mason Howell (a), Rory McIlroy, Cameron Young
Rory on top
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Defending champion Rory McIlroy began his quest to become just the fourth man to win back-to-back Green Jackets in style as he ended the first round in a share of the lead. McIlroy carded a five-under 67, with six birdies and just one bogey, to be the co-leader alongside American Sam Burns going into the second round. Back-to-back birdies for McIlroy at eight and nine were followed up by three straight birdies at 13, 14 and 15. Speaking after his five-under-par first round, McIlroy admitted to still feeling nervous despite ending his major drought last year and completing the career Grand Slam.
“It is a great start, but there is a long way to go,” McIlroy told Sky Sports. “I am right in the tournament and it is a lot better than starting from seven behind going into the second round, like I was last year. Cannot get ahead of myself, but feeling good with where I am at. I think I swung freely. Even when I was missing tee shots on the front nine, I still kept swinging. I did not start to get tentative. I kept swinging away just hoping that sooner or later I would find, and I did. I started to string some good swings together from the eighth hole, and from then on I played some really good golf.
“I thought I would feel different [as defending champion] but then I put my tee in the ground and my ball on the tee on the first hole, and I felt the same nerves that I always feel. It is the first major of the year, you want to get off to a good start, so I am glad that I felt that way. I think if I did not feel that way, then something would be wrong. I feel like I settled into the round really nicely and really quickly. Felt like I got a lot out of my round today. It started pretty scrappy. I was hitting out of the trees a little bit the first seven holes and then started to string some good swings together from the eight hole onwards.”
McIlroy is out in the penultimate group later today, alongside Cameron Young and amateur Mason Howell at 6.44pm UK time.
Three men are two shots behind the joint leaders at -3 in the form of 2018 Masters champion Patrick Reed, Kurt Kitayama and Jason Day. One shot further back at two under are four big names in Justin Rose, Scottie Scheffler, Shane Lowry and Xander Schauffele. Only 16 players managed to break par after round one.
However, it was a tough day for a couple of European Ryder Cup players in Jon Rahm and Robert MacIntyre. Rahm never got going and failed to register a birdie in his six-over-par round of 78. Things were even worse for Scot MacIntyre, whose eight-over round of 80 included a quadruple bogey at the par-five 15th. He put his ball into the water twice, which led to him sticking his middle finger up in disgust and will likely lead to a reprimand. Bryson DeChambeau also has a fight on his hands to make the cut after a four-over round of 76. He had a horror show in particular at the 11th, where it took him three attempts to get out of the greenside bunker as he carded a triple bogey at the start of Amen Corner.
The first tee times to start round two begin at 12.40pm UK time, with South Korea’s Sung-Jae Im and America’s Sam Stevens getting the second round going.