Rory McIlroy surges into six-shot Masters lead with stunning second-round flourish

After spending 16 years arsenic nan hunter, Rory McIlroy is relishing his position arsenic nan hunted. The defending Masters champion has reached nan halfway constituent of nan 2026 staging successful a style that asserts his desperation to bent connected to nan Green Jacket. Elk, served arsenic sliders successful nan 36-year-old’s champions meal connected Tuesday evening, were seen diving for screen successful mountainous regions arsenic McIlroy placed daylight betwixt himself and pretenders to his throne.

McIlroy won astatine Augusta National successful 2025 and yet discovered that was not his last profession destination aft all. He is now 36 holes from becoming only nan 4th man successful history to backmost up a Masters triumph pinch a Masters win. McIlroy’s distinctly relaxed authorities of mind intends only nan bold will backmost against him from here. Even nan imaginable of falling short is improbable to perturb McIlroy. He did rather capable of that successful earlier years earlier rebounding successful ferocious fashion. A expansive slam victor has a mindset to match.

McIlroy wasted small clip successful laying down a marker. He was nan sole leader of nan Masters connected nan 2nd hole. Birdies astatine nan 3rd and 4th followed. The second came aft a rather superb agelong robust changeable which was unlucky to drawback a downslope upon landing. McIlroy afforded nan section immoderate dream pinch a bogey connected nan treacherous 5th and erred again erstwhile missing from 5ft for par. Minus six astatine this constituent was matched by nan rampaging Reed.

McIlroy seemed to beryllium irritated by nan leaderboard attention. He deed a pinpoint tee changeable into nan 12th, mounting up a birdie. The 13th and 15th saw shots collected successful straightforward style. At nan 16th, McIlroy’s tee changeable was to tap-in range. A 3rd 2 of nan information was duly collected. McIlroy had reached double digits nether par.

The champion was yet to come. He deed his thrust astatine nan penultimate spread into trees, from wherever he could only punch retired short and correct of nan green. Take a 4 and move on? Not connected your life. McIlroy chipped successful from 30 yards. His lead was five, his grin truthful broad. He converted astatine nan past for a 65, 12 nether par and a lead of six; a Masters grounds astatine halfway.

Rory McIlroy plays from nan soil astatine nan 7th. Photograph: Jared C Tilton/Getty Images

The leaderboard is truthful wonderfully tight beneath McIlroy. Patrick Reed had reached 7 nether but dropped a changeable astatine nan last. Back-to-back 69s from Reed emphasise consistency. Victory present successful 2018 intends he is worthy of further respect. Previous theatre betwixt McIlroy and Reed mean this would beryllium an enticing Sunday scrap, should it travel to that.

“I person ever wanted to put nan Green Jacket connected for a 2nd time,” said Reed. “You ever dream arsenic a golfer to spell retired and effort to triumph nan Green Jacket.” Those dreams dangle connected a McIlroy stumble.

Sam Burns, who began Friday connected nan aforesaid five-under tally arsenic McIlroy, managed a 71 to separator beside Reed. A European trio are astatine 5 under; Justin Rose, Shane Lowry and Tommy Fleetwood. “I’m happy,” said Lowry. “Obviously location is simply a agelong measurement to spell but having a precocious tee clip connected Saturday day is ever a bully spot to beryllium in.”

Patrick Reed sits six shots back, alongside his US compatriot Sam Burns. Photograph: Mike Blake/Reuters

Tyrrell Hatton, who berated Augusta 4 years ago, has yet formed a affirmative narration pinch nan Masters venue. The Englishman’s 66 moved him to 4 under. Only a three-putt bogey astatine nan past irked Hatton but by his standards nan guidance was tame. He will judge this is simply a chance to extremity his awesome drought. “It felt for illustration a spot of a astonishment I really sewage it to 7 nether astir this play people pinch really I’ve antecedently struggled,” Hatton said. “I was evidently enjoying it. It was bully to beryllium astatine that people and not hacking it information and complete par for illustration I mostly do astir here. I conjecture it was bully for a change.

“I deliberation my results person sewage amended nan past fewer years, which is nice. There are spots astir nan play people that are very difficult. I don’t awkward distant from saying things, that’s conscionable really I americium and I won’t change.”

From 3 under, Brooks Koepka shrugged disconnected nan pre-tournament comments of Tom Watson. As acold arsenic Watson is concerned, Koepka was fto disconnected lightly by being allowed to return to nan PGA Tour from nan LIV circuit. “Everybody is entitled to their ain opinion,” Koepka said. “That’s good if he thinks that. He’s not nan first personification that has thought that. I’m conscionable grateful to beryllium retired here. The group that make those decisions fto maine retired here. If you’re going to get nan opportunity to travel backmost retired you’re going to return it.”

Those to depart astatine halfway included Robert MacIntyre, Tom McKibbin, Cameron Smith and Fred Couples. The 66-year-old Couples is owed immense praise for outscoring 16 players successful nan field. So, too, is Li Haotong.

Tommy Fleetwood hits his tee changeable connected nan 16th. Photograph: David J Phillip/AP

The Chinese subordinate explained he has been “living successful nan toilet” owed to tummy issues. Not truthful overmuch Bryson DeChambeau, who was wrong nan trim statement earlier making an almighty cock-up of nan 18th. DeChambeau recovered nan trees, past a bunker from which he could not exit successful 1 shot. The remainder is already messy history. Farewell, Bryson.

Jon Rahm bravely battled backmost from Thursday’s 78 to make nan cut, acknowledgment to a 70. Ordinarily, anybody who makes it into nan Saturday tie astatine Augusta has astatine slightest a mini opportunity of winning. These are not emblematic times. McIlroy is dictating nan terms.