AUGUSTA, Ga. — Rory McIlroy has been pursuing his first green jacket for a long time, and he finally achieved that goal last year.

Now, he’s on the lookout again, with just two days remaining in the competition.

There are still 36 holes left in the 90th Masters Field, and McIlroy has established an exciting six-stroke lead going into Saturday’s third round at Augusta National.

After winning his first Masters in April and completing a career Grand Slam, McIlroy dazzled with a career-high nine birdies during a remarkable round of 65, bringing his tournament score to 12 under par.

Trailing him are Patrick Reed and Sam Barnes at six under, with Justin Rose, Shane Lawrie, and Tommy Fleetwood following at five under. Other notable players at four under include Cam Young, Jason Day, and Tyrrell Hatton.

It took McIlroy 16 years to don the jacket, and after a year of waiting for his second child, only two days remain.

“We know what can happen here, both the good and the bad. We just need to stay focused and not get too ahead of ourselves,” McIlroy remarked. “We had a great start, but tomorrow will reset everything to even par.”

Reflecting on 2011, McIlroy recalls having a four-stroke lead as he approached the final nine holes, only to stumble with a back nine score of 43, ultimately finishing tied for 15th.

Back then, he was a younger player, just coming off his first major win at the U.S. Open. This time around, he feels more seasoned and complete.

His back nine on Friday was particularly impressive, ending with four consecutive birdies.

McIlroy birdied six of the last seven holes, including a spectacular chip-in on the 17th, transforming a tight leaderboard into a commanding lead.

“I stood on the 12th tee not imagining that I’d end with a six-stroke lead,” he said. “There were moments when I felt in the zone. Maybe this was one of those days.”

“During the final holes, I definitely found a rhythm. I just focused on the positives in every situation. That mindset allowed me to see opportunities to make birdies.”

If the chip-in on the 17th didn’t signal that this is McIlroy’s week, nothing would.

He credited his short game practice for this week’s success. “I’ve spent a lot of time here in the last three weeks, and it feels like I’ve become part of the place.”

Before Friday, the record for the largest 36-hole lead at the Masters was five strokes, held by several players, including legends like Jack Nicklaus and Jordan Spieth. Among those, five went on to win the green jacket.

So, what’s next for McIlroy with such a significant lead?

“I’ve built a nice cushion, but my focus is to keep playing well and maintaining momentum,” he mentioned.

As he prepares for Saturday’s round, McIlroy plans to keep himself entertained by watching tennis or enjoying some downtime with his daughter, Poppy.

“There are some exciting semi-finals in Monte Carlo,” he added. “I’d love to catch those matches. Plus, we’re halfway through Zootopia 2, so that could work too.”

Reigning U.S. Amateur champion Mason Howell, who played alongside McIlroy, was in awe of the performance. “You try to keep your focus, but it’s hard not to be impressed. That chip-in on 17 was just incredible,” Howell said. “He’s got a six-stroke lead, and he seems so relaxed right now. I’d be surprised if he doesn’t seal the deal this weekend.”

And he’s not the only one sharing that sentiment.