AUGUSTA, Ga. — It’s happening.
Rory McIlroy is making quite the statement as he seeks to defend his Masters title at this year’s 90th event at Augusta National.
In his first tournament round since donning his first green jacket last year, McIlroy couldn’t have hoped for a better start. He shot a remarkable 5-under 67, finishing the round tied for the lead. This score ranks as the second-best first round of his career, surpassed only by a 65 he achieved back in 2011.
This marked just the third time in his 18 appearances at the Masters that he opened with such a solid score.
“The last decade has been about not just chasing my first Masters but also aiming for a Grand Slam. When I teed off today, sure, I felt the nerves, but I got into a good rhythm,” McIlroy reflected.
He even mentioned hitting the ball off a tree early in the round, which seemed to shift his focus positively. “I thought, ‘Let’s give this a go.’ That was a turning point for me,” he recalled.
Though he started his round on the par-5 eighth hole and played the first seven holes at even par, he saved his best for last. He made a punchy approach shot on the eighth for a birdie, adding further birdies on the 9th, 13th, 14th, and 15th holes.
“I’m really pleased with my score since I didn’t drive particularly well on the front nine, but I managed to scramble and make some pars,” he explained. Remarkably, after the 8th hole, he managed to play the remaining 11 holes at 5 under.
“It feels good that I kept battling when things didn’t start great. Seeing those birdies later in the round was a nice payoff,” he added.
By the end of his round, McIlroy was tied with Sam Burns, whose 67 represents the lowest score ever recorded in Masters history. Meanwhile, Jason Day, Patrick Reed, and Kurt Kitayama ended the day with scores of 3 under, trailing by two strokes.
In the past week, McIlroy has pushed aside any sense of being too comfortable with his title, understanding what it means to be a reigning champion with his own spot in the champions’ locker room.
“There are times I need to remind myself, ‘Yes, I’m back here every year,’” he expressed. “It’s such a thrill to share this experience with all the other champions. I think I might head up now, enjoy a drink, and wrap up the day,” he commented with a smile.
