Augusta Masters: Rory McIlroy Accelerates to Early Lead with Sam Burns After Best Start in 15 Years

Rory McIlroy commenced his title defense at the Masters with a remarkable opening round, carding a 5-under 67 at Augusta National. This performance marks his best start at the prestigious tournament in 15 years, placing him in a tie for the lead with Sam Burns.

McIlroy’s round began with a tee shot that rolled near a spectator’s seat, followed by another that found the trees. His tee shot on the seventh hole veered into the 17th fairway. Despite these challenges, McIlroy maintained a calm demeanor, attributing his composure to his status as the reigning Masters champion. He expressed confidence in his ability to regain form, stating, “I just trusted that eventually I’ll start to make some good swings. So that was a little different.”

Throughout the week, McIlroy has embraced his role as champion, donning his green jacket at various events, including a news conference and the Masters Club dinner. After his opening round, he remarked on the psychological advantage of being able to return to the Champions Locker Room and wear his green jacket at the end of the day.

Not His Best Yet

While McIlroy acknowledged that his performance was not his best, he maximized his round in pursuit of becoming only the fourth player to win back-to-back titles at Augusta National. Fred Couples noted the possibility of McIlroy maintaining his dominance, telling his caddie, “By the way, Rory may never lose this thing again after last year.”

In the last decade, only Hideki Matsuyama, who won in 2021, has shot a 67 while hitting only five fairways. McIlroy became the sixth defending champion to share the 18-hole lead, with only Jack Nicklaus (1966) going on to win under similar circumstances. The course’s fast and firm conditions captured the attention of all competitors.

Burns, one of the early starters, excelled on the par 5s, achieving three birdies and an eagle, resulting in his lowest score in five Masters appearances. He emphasized the importance of performing well on the par 5s, stating, “Historically, people who have success here play the par 5s really well, and we were able to do that today. So it’s a good recipe around this golf course.”

Tough Day for Competitors

Scottie Scheffler, the world’s top-ranked player and a contender for his third green jacket in five years, began strong at 3 under through three holes. However, the afternoon conditions proved challenging, with light gusts affecting play and the greens becoming increasingly firm. He finished with a score of 70, featuring one bogey and 14 pars.

The day’s conditions were difficult, with forecasts suggesting this could be the first Masters in 25 years without rain. While the weather was pleasant, the dry and firm conditions raised concerns about potential challenges over the next three days. Adam Scott noted the risks associated with the course’s firmness, stating, “It’s not right on the edge, but it’s playing nice and firm where you can get yourself in a lot of trouble if you lose control somewhere.”

Patrick Reed, the 2018 Masters champion, also performed well, finishing with a score of 69, alongside Jason Day and Kurt Kitayama. Reed briefly led the tournament, aided by two eagles on the front nine. However, he encountered difficulties on the par-5 15th hole, where a well-placed shot unexpectedly rolled off the back of the green and into the pond on No. 16. He described the incident as a “head-scratcher,” expressing disbelief at the outcome.

Justin Rose, a two-time playoff runner-up at the Masters, was in contention until he dropped three shots over the final five holes, finishing with a score of 70, tied with Scheffler, Xander Schauffele, and Shane Lowry. Rose humorously remarked on the firmness of the greens, suggesting that players might earn a “yellow jacket” if they win, referring to the color indicating fast conditions.

Augusta National proved to be a formidable challenge, with swirling winds leading to indecision and errant shots. Bryson DeChambeau faced difficulties on the 11th hole, requiring three attempts to escape a bunker, ultimately finishing with a score of 76. Jon Rahm also struggled, turning a potential birdie into a double bogey on the par-5 13th, concluding with a score of 78.

Only five players managed to break 70, and just 16 finished under par, marking the lowest number of players under par in the opening round in five years. Ten players failed to break 80, including Robert MacIntyre, who recorded a quadruple-bogey 9 on the par-5 15th hole.

As McIlroy approached his 18th appearance at the Masters, he reflected on his expectations as the defending champion. Having previously started with rounds in the 60s only twice, he acknowledged the nerves that accompany competing at Augusta National. He expressed satisfaction with his performance, stating, “My hope was to get off to a solid start. I feel like the way I played, 5 under, exceeded where I thought I would be or what I wanted to do.”

Source: www.emirates247.com

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Published on 2026-04-10 13:54:00 • By the Editorial Desk