McIlroy sets Masters record, finds golf freedom at Augusta

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AUGUSTA, Ga. — The man who couldn’t win the Masters is now looking like the man who can’t lose it.

Attempting to become just the third golfer to go back-to-back at Augusta National, Rory McIlroy heads to the weekend at 12-under par, six shots clear of the field, with the biggest 36-hole lead in Masters history.

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“Look, I’ve built up a nice cushion at this point,” he said. “I guess my mindset is just trying to keep playing well and keeping my foot on the gas.”

With the golf course drying out in rising temperatures on Friday, the Northern Irish superstar torched the scorched course, shooting a second-round seven-under 65.

McIlroy began the day tied for the lead with Sam Burns at five under par after shooting a 67 on Thursday. All the five-time major winner did after that was rack up nine more birdies, including four in a row to finish the day, versus just two bogeys.

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“I’ve spent a lot of time up here over the past three weeks,” said McIlroy, who had not teed it up in competition since last month’s Players Championship. “Even though I haven’t played tournament golf, I feel like being up here a lot and playing, I’ve prepared as well for this Masters as any other that I’ve played. I think all that work around the greens over the last three weeks has certainly paid off.”

Burns is tied for second at six-under with 2018 Masters champ Patrick Reed, who left LIV Golf and will return to the PGA Tour full time in 2027.

“It’s one of those golf courses you go out and you post a low number early, just never know,” Reed said of the weekend chase. “But the thing about this golf course, when it starts playing firm and fast, you’ll have shorter clubs in some greens, but they get so crusty and bouncy that you have to be so precise on iron shots. Then when you get above the hole you have to putt so defensive. Just have to wait and see what the weekend entails.”

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One shot back of Reed and Burns, in a tie for third at five-under, are Rory’s pals and European Ryder Cup teammates Justin Rose, Shane Lowry and Tommy Fleetwood.

“Rory looks like he has a good chance to have a pretty commanding lead, in which case it’s up to him what happens,” Fleetwood said. “When the conditions get tougher later in the day because it dries out and gets firmer and faster, a good round in the morning can make the world of difference.”

Heading into Masters week, the discussion surrounding McIlroy was whether he would be able to find the motivation to contend, or whether the trappings of life as a green jacket winner would see him satisfied being known as an exquisite sommelier at the Champions Dinner. He has more than answered the question and along the way showcased what is possible when his complete golfing arsenal is paired with the freedom of knowing his seat at the Masters table is permanent.

“I think it was getting to the point where I would allow myself to play the course the way that I knew that I could,” McIlroy said of the big difference this year. “So it was getting past myself. It was staying aggressive. Like my little mantra to myself today was keep swinging, keep swinging hard at it, even if you’re not hitting fairways, just keep swinging.”

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“Over the years, this golf course, sometimes my mindset hasn’t been keep swinging. It’s been guided, tentative. I think the experience I’ve accrued over the years and obviously with what happened last year, it makes it a bit easier.”

While Rory might still have moments where he wonders about his new motivations after completing the lifelong goal of the career grand slam, Masters Week can now offer him a clarity of purpose and a freedom, when just a year ago it seemed in danger of forever consuming him.

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