Rory McIlroy started the protection of his first Masters title with a 5-under-par 67 that gave him a share of the afternoon lead with Sam Burns at Augusta Nationwide on Thursday.
It’s only the third time in 18 Masters begins that McIlroy has damaged 70 within the first spherical and the second-lowest opening-round rating he has posted, solely trailing a 65 in 2011.
“Nice, nice begin to the week, clearly. Felt like I bought lots out of my spherical at this time,” he mentioned. “I settled into the spherical properly even once I wasn’t hitting fairways.”
Thursday’s effort tied the 5 below that Burns posted earlier within the afternoon. Each gamers took important benefit of the par-5s. Burns eagled the second gap and birdied the three others, whereas McIlroy birdied all 4 of them.
“I believe traditionally individuals who have success right here play the par-5s rather well, and we have been capable of try this at this time. So, it’s a great recipe round this golf course,” Burns mentioned.
Like Burns, McIlroy made the flip in 2 below earlier than carding a 3-under 33 on the again 9, courtesy of three consecutive birdies from Nos. 13-15.
McIlroy acknowledged earlier this week that final yr’s victory took a “massive weight” off his shoulders. And now he’s in an glorious place as he makes an attempt to grow to be solely the fourth participant to win back-to-back Masters.
McIlroy shot an opening-round 72 in 2025 that left him in a tie for twenty seventh, and his common opening rating in 17 earlier Masters was 71.7. By means of what he known as a shaky first seven holes, a low spherical didn’t seem like within the playing cards. Then a birdie at No. 8 led to him taking part in his last 11 holes in 5 below.
McIlroy mentioned that in earlier years he won’t have been affected person sufficient to beat a shaky begin, however final yr’s victory gave him the flexibility to maintain swinging freely quite than tentatively.
“I used to be nervous, I used to be anxious identical to I all the time am on that first tee,” he mentioned. “It’s the primary spherical of the 16 most vital rounds of the season. It could be worrisome if I didn’t really feel that approach, as a result of it nonetheless means one thing to me.”
Earlier, Burns posted the very best rating of his Masters profession in any spherical, besting the 68 he shot within the first spherical in 2023. In 12 rounds by means of 4 earlier appearances at Augusta Nationwide, that had been the lone time Burns had damaged 70 till Thursday.
However he doesn’t intend to spend a lot time dwelling on the in a single day leaderboard.
“I really feel such as you begin considering, , up to now or sooner or later. This isn’t actually a golf course; you need to try this,” he mentioned. “I believe for me it is simply making an attempt to exit, execute, have a great course of, decide to the shot, and simply be accepting of no matter occurs.”
Patrick Reed additionally reached 5 below by eagling each par-5s on the entrance 9 to make his flip at 31, however the 2018 Masters champion gave a shot again at No. 10 earlier than placing a ball within the water on the par-5 fifteenth for an additional bogey to enter the clubhouse at 3 below.
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“All in all, there have been a whole lot of high quality golf pictures,” Reid mentioned. “I felt like I performed lots higher form of than the rating at this time. I hit the ball fairly strong, gave myself a whole lot of attractiveness, and made a few putts.”
Kurt Kitayama completed an eventful day at 3-under 69. He reached 4 below by means of 10 holes, earlier than a bogey on No. 11 and a double bogey on the quick par-3 twelfth. He was capable of card birdies on two of his last holes to get to the clubhouse among the many early leaders.
Bryson DeChambeau, looking for to construct on his greatest Masters end of fifth place final yr, was at even par coming into the eleventh by means of 13 holes, referred to as “Amen Nook.” He put his method shot on No. 11 into the bunker behind the inexperienced. DeChambeau then didn’t get out of the bunker on his first two makes an attempt and ended up carding a triple bogey on the opening.
“Bunker was softer than I anticipated,” DeChambeau supplied when requested about what occurred on 11, including that he hit a strong method shot that flew 12 yards additional than he needed.
DeChambeau completed the day at 4 over following a bogey-birdie-bogey end.
The 91-player area contains 22 first-time gamers—six amateurs and 16 professionals. Every newbie is paired with a Masters champion for the primary two rounds of the match.
Printed on Apr 10, 2026