Image courtesy The Masters/X.
By Rahul Banerji
Rory McIlroy is in pace-setting form at Augusta National Golf Club this week.
The 2025 winner has so far returned cards of 67 and 65 to total 12 under par 132 and a six-shot lead, the largest 36-hole advantage in Masters Tournament history.
The previous best was five strokes, achieved six times and most recently by world number one Scottie Scheffler four years ago. Only once has that lead not been converted to victory, by Harry Cooper in 1936.
Fellow-Americans Patrick Reed (69-69) and Sam Burns (67-71) are on 6 under 138s, while McIlroy’s Ryder Cup teammates Justin Rose (70-69), Shane Lowry (70-69) and Tommy Fleetwood (71-68) trail them by one on 139.
Recent winners Bryson DeChambeau and J.J. Spaum did not event make it into the weekend.
Such has been McIlroy’s dominance that 1992 winner Fred Couples, who made his 41st Masters start on Thursday was moved to tell his caddy Mark Chaney, “By the way, Rory may never lose this thing again after last year.”
After missing the cut on Friday, Couples added, “Rory might win every year. I said that yesterday. I mean, he really could win five more of these.”
Augusta National has certainly handed its share of heartbreak to the world number two, but looks to be in a hurry to make amends this year after the narrow 2025 victory over England’s Rose.
In the zone
“I’ve certainly had times where I felt like in the zone or in that flow state or whatever you want to call it,” McIlroy said on Friday.
“Maybe this afternoon was one of those times. I would say maybe not in the zone, but I definitely found a sense of flow those last few holes.
“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.”
If he does go on to claim the Green Jacket on Sunday, McIlroy could become just the fourth back-to-back winner of the Masters, and the first since Tiger Woods in 2001-2002.
The others on that list are Jack Nicklaus and Sir Nick Faldo.
McIlroy looks in tremendous form, ripping off four straight birdies — six in the final seven — to close out Friday including a dream chip-in from under the green on hole 17 (“I could see everyone in the grandstand start to stand up”).
“I just want to go out and play two good rounds again,” McIlroy said after signing for his card.
“Obviously this golf course has certain characteristics that 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.
“I knew I had some chances coming in when I was standing on the 12th tee, but I didn’t think I’d birdie six of the last seven. It just shows what you can do around here.”
Also read: McIlroy ends 11-year wait to complete career Slam at Masters
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