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AUGUSTA, Ga. \u2014 Rory McIlroy spent what felt like a golfing lifetime chasing his first green jacket before finally realizing his dream a year ago.<\/p>\n
For the next two days, it will be McIlroy who is chased.<\/p>\n
The rest of the 90th Masters field has 36 holes to make up the stunning record six-shot lead McIlroy takes into Saturday\u2019s third round at Augusta National.<\/p>\n
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\u2019s remarkable round of 65 to get to 12-under for the tournament.<\/p>\n
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\u2019s Cam Young, Jason Day and Tyrrell Hatton.<\/p>\n
McIlroy waited 16 years before finally having the jacket slipped over his shoulders. He\u2019s now two days away from having waited only a year for his second.<\/p>\nRory McIlroy of Northern Ireland reacts after holing-out for a birdie on the 17th hole during the second round of the 2026 Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club on April 10, 2026 in Augusta, Georgia. Getty Images<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n<\/aside>\n\u201cI know what can happen around here \u2014 good and bad,\u2019\u2019 McIlroy said. \u201cYou don\u2019t have to remind me not to get ahead of myself around this place. There\u2019s a long way to go. I\u2019ve got off to an amazing start, but tomorrow we reset and everyone\u2019s back to even par.\u2019\u2019<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
McIlroy was a boy back then, having just won his first major championship that year \u2014 a runaway win in the U.S. Open at Congressional, where he took a six-shot lead into the final round.<\/p>\n
He\u2019s a man now, seasoned, hardened and more accomplished.<\/p>\n
McIlroy\u2019s back nine Friday \u2014 particularly his birdie-birdie-birdie-birdie finish on the final four holes \u2014 was electric.<\/p>\n
He birdied six of his final seven holes \u2014 highlighted by a chip-in on No. 17 \u2014 and turned what was a tight leaderboard into a runaway.<\/p>\nRory McIlroy, of Northern Ireland, hits his tee shot on the 16th hole during the second round of the Masters golf tournament at the Augusta National Golf Club, Friday, April 10, 2026. AP<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\u201cStanding on the 12th tee, I never imagined I\u2019d have a six-shot lead at the end of the day,\u2019\u2019 he said. \u201cI\u2019ve 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.<\/p>\n
\u201cI 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.\u2019\u2019<\/p>\n
If the chip-in on 17 didn\u2019t tell you this is McIlroy\u2019s week, then nothing will.<\/p>\n
McIlroy credited his short game for his prowess around Augusta this week.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat was a result of the time I\u2019ve spent here the last three weeks practicing,\u2019\u2019 he said. \u201cI spent so much time I felt like I was part of the furniture.\u2019\u2019<\/p>\n
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.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
Of those six, five went on to win the green jacket. Only Harry Cooper in 1936 failed to close the deal.<\/p>\n
Now what for McIlroy with the bloated lead?<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ve built up a nice cushion at this point,\u2019\u2019 he said. \u201cI guess my mindset is just trying to keep playing well and keeping my foot on the gas.\u2019\u2019<\/p>\nRory McIlroy of Northern Ireland plays his shot from the 12th tee during the second round of the 2026 Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club on April 10, 2026 in Augusta, Georgia. Getty Images<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\nAs for his wait to tee it up in Saturday\u2019s third round, which won\u2019t 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.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere\u2019s actually two really good semifinals at Monte Carlo,\u2019\u2019 he said. \u201cI think it\u2019s [Jannik] Sinner and [Alexander] Zverev and [Valentin] Vacherot and [Carlos] Alcaraz. So I\u2019ll watch those, and then hopefully spend some time with Poppy. I think we\u2019re about halfway through \u2018Zootopia 2.\u2019 So maybe do a little bit of that.\u2019\u2019<\/p>\n
Mason Howell, the reigning U.S. Amateur champion, played in McIlroy\u2019s group and had a front-row seat for the show.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou\u2019ve got to stay in your own lane, but it\u2019s hard not to watch that,\u2019\u2019 Howell said. \u201cThat chip-in on 17 was unreal. That was one of the coolest things I\u2019ve seen in sports, and I got to witness it in person.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe has like a six-shot lead. So that\u2019s crazy. Now he has all the weight off his shoulders. He\u2019s playing so carefree, and I\u2019ll be shocked if he doesn\u2019t get it done this weekend.\u2019\u2019<\/p>\n
He\u2019s not alone in that thought.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n
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