Masters 2026: McIlroy in share of lead after superb start to title defence
The defending champion is in a great spot.
Rory McIlroy made a superb start to his bid to win a second successive Masters, the defending champion finishing his first round in a share of the lead at Augusta National.
McIlroy finally ended his wait for a green jacket last year as he completed the career Grand Slam by beating Justin Rose in a play-off.
Only three players have ever won back-to-back Masters titles in the long and storied history of the season’s opening major, with McIlroy hoping to follow in the footsteps of Jack Nicklaus, Nick Faldo and Tiger Woods.
And he is in a strong position to do so after his opening round, which saw him card a five-under 67, a score matched by American Sam Burns.
McIlroy makes strong start
McIlroy continually demonstrated his ability to recover from poor positions as he posted six birdies, his only blemish coming at the par-four third.
The Northern Irishman made the turn with significant momentum after birdies at eight and nine, but his best stretch came from the 13th to the 15th, McIlroy reeling off three successive gains, the third seeing him hole an outstanding putt from 29 feet.
He slid a birdie putt for the outright lead just wide to the left at the 17th, and had to recover after finding the fairway bunker at the last to save par and stay level with Burns.
Experience the key for defending champion
Analysing his opening round, McIlroy explained that the many trials and tribulations he has experienced at Augusta allowed him to remain calm during an uneven front nine.
“I feel like I settled into the round really quickly and really nicely,” McIlroy told Sky Sports.
“Wherever I hit it on this golf course, I feel like I’ve seen it all over the past 18 years and I always feel like I can figure it out, get it to the front of the green, make a par and move on.
“I did that quite a bit on the front nine today, and I started to find my game a bit on the back.”
World number one Scottie Scheffler was two shots behind McIlroy and Burns through his first eight holes as he looks to recapture the form that led him to Masters glory in 2022 and 2024.
Scheffler headlined a group of six players at three-under, among them Rose, who was again rising to the occasion at Augusta through his first nine holes.
By stark contrast, 2023 champion Jon Rahm was four over through 10, while Bryson DeChambeau carded a 76 as his bid for a first green jacket got off to a dreadful start.