AUGUSTA, Ga. — Rory McIlroy spent what felt like a golfing lifetime chasing his first green jacket before finally realizing his dream a year ago.
For the next two days, it will be McIlroy who is chased.
The rest of the 90th Masters field has 36 holes to make up the stunning record six-shot lead McIlroy takes into Saturday’s third round at Augusta National.
McIlroy, who last April won his first Masters and completed the career Grand Slam in the process, carded a career-high nine birdies in Friday’s remarkable round of 65 to get to 12-under for the tournament.
The next players behind him are Patrick Reed and Sam Burns at 6-under, followed by Justin Rose, Shane Lowry and Tommy Fleetwood at 5-under. Among the six players at 4-under are Westchester’s Cam Young, Jason Day and Tyrrell Hatton.
McIlroy waited 16 years before finally having the jacket slipped over his shoulders. He’s now two days away from having waited only a year for his second.
“I know what can happen around here — good and bad,’’ McIlroy said. “You don’t have to remind me not to get ahead of myself around this place. There’s a long way to go. I’ve got off to an amazing start, but tomorrow we reset and everyone’s back to even par.’’
McIlroy remembers the four-shot lead he took into the final nine holes in 2011 before shooting 43 on the back nine to finish with an 80 and in a tie for 15th.
McIlroy was a boy back then, having just won his first major championship that year — a runaway win in the U.S. Open at Congressional, where he took a six-shot lead into the final round.
He’s a man now, seasoned, hardened and more accomplished.
McIlroy’s back nine Friday — particularly his birdie-birdie-birdie-birdie finish on the final four holes — was electric.
He birdied six of his final seven holes — highlighted by a chip-in on No. 17 — and turned what was a tight leaderboard into a runaway.
“Standing on the 12th tee, I never imagined I’d have a six-shot lead at the end of the day,’’ he said. “I’ve certainly had times where I felt like in the zone or in that flow state or whatever you want to call it. Maybe this afternoon was one of those times.
“I definitely found a sense of flow on those last few holes. The only way I can describe it is everything that you see or any situation that you come across, you can find a positive in it. And then you see birdies and you can see ways to make birdies.’’
If the chip-in on 17 didn’t tell you this is McIlroy’s week, then nothing will.
McIlroy credited his short game for his prowess around Augusta this week.
“That was a result of the time I’ve spent here the last three weeks practicing,’’ he said. “I spent so much time I felt like I was part of the furniture.’’
Before Friday, the largest 36-hole lead at the Masters was five shots, done by six players, including Jack Nicklaus, Jordan Spieth and, most recently, Scottie Scheffler in 2022.
Of those six, five went on to win the green jacket. Only Harry Cooper in 1936 failed to close the deal.
Now what for McIlroy with the bloated lead?
“I’ve built up a nice cushion at this point,’’ he said. “I guess my mindset is just trying to keep playing well and keeping my foot on the gas.’’
As for his wait to tee it up in Saturday’s third round, which won’t be until 2:50 p.m., McIlroy said he plans to distract himself by watching tennis on TV and a movie with his daughter, Poppy.
“There’s actually two really good semifinals at Monte Carlo,’’ he said. “I think it’s [Jannik] Sinner and [Alexander] Zverev and [Valentin] Vacherot and [Carlos] Alcaraz. So I’ll watch those, and then hopefully spend some time with Poppy. I think we’re about halfway through ‘Zootopia 2.’ So maybe do a little bit of that.’’
Mason Howell, the reigning U.S. Amateur champion, played in McIlroy’s group and had a front-row seat for the show.
“You’ve got to stay in your own lane, but it’s hard not to watch that,’’ Howell said. “That chip-in on 17 was unreal. That was one of the coolest things I’ve seen in sports, and I got to witness it in person.
“He has like a six-shot lead. So that’s crazy. Now he has all the weight off his shoulders. He’s playing so carefree, and I’ll be shocked if he doesn’t get it done this weekend.’’
He’s not alone in that thought.
