Not a bad way to rebound, Rory McIlroy.
The Northern Irishman scored a birdie on Friday's par 5 second hole at Augusta National after the second round of the 2025 Masters scored a second shot behind the tree while the second round of the 2025 Masters was underway.
McIlroy was about to make up the ground following two double bogeys in the back nine on Thursday, playing the ball near the trunk after sinking a putt to the fourth shot and finishing with a 1-under par.
He made pars on the next five holes.
McIlroy got off to a fiery start on Thursday in the opening round in search of a first Masters victory and a career grand slam, bading four birdies on the first 14 holes on his way to a 4-under par score.
Things crashed shortly after 35-year-old McIlroy shot two bogeys on the PAR-5 on the 15th and the 17th.
He finished the day at age 72 and rejected an interview request after the round.
Through seven holes on Friday, McIlroy was tied to 16th at 1 under, while British Justin Rose led by 10 at 8 under.
McIlroy's best finish at the Masters came in 2022 when he placed second in 2022 with Scotty Schaeffler.
Schaeffler, 28, finished with a 4-under 68 in the opening round on Thursday.
McIlroy got off to a hot start of the season with the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am in February. He won his second player championship in March and followed that victory.
“I think it was the time when Rory won. [a Masters]Golf legend and six-time Masters champion Jack Nicklaus spent last week at McIlroy in Florida ahead of his first major of the year.
“Last week we sat down with Rory for lunch. We were talking, “Rory, I know you're preparing Augusta. Tell us how you play the golf course.”
“We went through shots for shots [when] He finished the round and I couldn't open my mouth. (Then) I said, “Well, I don't change things. That's exactly how I try to play the golf course.”
McIlroy was his last major championship in the PGA Championship in 2014.
The Master concludes Sunday.
