Extra time at Augusta helps Rory McIlroy make Masters magic

AUGUSTA – As a veteran golfer, Rory McIlroy knows better than most of his peers that nothing is set in stone no matter how well he is playing at the ongoing Masters.

The defending champion birdied six of the last seven holes in the second round on April 10 to grab a tournament-record six-stroke edge after 36 holes.

But McIlroy insisted that the event is far from over despite his huge margin.

“I just want to go out and play two good rounds again,” the world No. 2 declared.

“Guys can get on runs, guys can make eagles, you hear roars all over the golf course.

“I think the next two days for me is really about focusing on myself and staying in my own little world out there. I’ve built up a nice cushion. I guess my mindset is just trying to keep playing well and keeping my foot on the gas.”

The 36-year-old spent nine days over his three-week PGA Tour break making visits to Augusta National – practice that has helped him seize the greatest 36-hole lead in Masters history.

Using the champions’ locker room and enjoying the famed course have helped tremendously.

“I think just spending so much time up here has been a big part of it,” McIlroy said.

“I spent a lot of time up here the last three weeks.

“Felt like I was part of the furniture at some point, but I think all those rounds I played and chipping and putting, it has definitely paid off. My short game the first two days has been amazing.

“I feel like, being up here a lot and playing, I’ve prepared as well for this Masters as any other I’ve played. All that work around the greens over the last three weeks has certainly paid off over the last two days.”

With birdies on nine of 18 holes against two bogeys, McIlroy fired a seven-under 65 to stand on 12-under 132 midway into the year’s first Major. Americans Sam Burns (71) and Patrick Reed (69) sat six adrift in tied-second.

The Northern Irishman’s lead ties the third-largest 36-hole edge in the history of golf Majors, three off Henry Cotton’s 1934 British Open record and one back of Brooks Koepka at the 2019 PGA Championship.

His 10th Major round of 65 or lower also equals the record shared by Tiger Woods and Dustin Johnson, as he bids to be only the fourth player to capture back-to-back Green Jackets.

Another key factor for McIlroy is that the burden of expectation has eased since his victory in 2025, which completed the career Grand Slam, and the five-time Major winner is playing with a freedom that had often eluded him in previous appearances.

However, he also said that it is precisely those experiences that had taught him not to look too far ahead at Augusta National, where he infamously squandered a four-shot lead in the final round in 2011.

“I know what can happen around here, good and bad,” McIlroy said. “You don’t have to remind me not to get ahead of myself around this place. We reset and everybody goes back to even par tomorrow.”

Burns birdied three of the last four holes in the second round and will be paired with him over the weekend.

Reed, who left the Saudi-backed LIV Golf circuit when his contract expired in January, kept the pressure on McIlroy with his round of three under on April 10 but a missed putt leading to a bogey on the 18th hole cost him his place in the final pairing.

One shot further drift, three-time Masters runner-up Justin Rose (69), 2019 British Open winner Shane Lowry (69) and Tommy Fleetwood (68) are in joint-fourth.

World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler sank down the leaderboard, twice splashing into the water, but insisted that he played much better than his score suggested.

The four-time Major champion, seeking his third Masters crown in five seasons, struggled to a two-over 74.

It was his second-worst score in 26 rounds at Augusta National and left him tied-24th on even-par 144 at the tournament’s midway point.

“Was really challenging. I played really pretty well. I felt like I played a lot better than my score,” he said.

“Just the little things that I felt like I was close to having a really good round. Just a few things here or there, a few breaks that didn’t go my way. Yeah, the margins are small.”

Among the notable players to miss the cut were Bryson DeChambeau (74) – whose triple-bogey at the last hole cost him a place at the weekend – Cameron Smith (77) and J.J. Spaun (75). AFP, REUTERS