Rory McIlroy, the defending champion, demonstrated his prowess early in the 2026 Masters, finishing round one tied for first at 5 under par with Sam Burns. He maintained this tied position entering the 12th hole in round 2, a par three known for tripping up many major stars. This time, the former world number one scored a birdie after hitting his tee shot to 2,1 meters from the hole.
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McIlroy on the 18th green at Augusta National Golf Club, Georgia, USA on 10/4. Photo: Reuters |
Over the final six holes, McIlroy made 5 birdies. On the penultimate hole, he thrilled the crowd with a chip-in, despite being 27 meters away and unable to see the target. McIlroy stated that his view was obscured, but he knew the chip shot was good because "everyone in the stands stood up and cheered".
McIlroy attributes his short-game success to extensive practice at Augusta National three weeks before the tournament, primarily focusing on short-game shots and putting. This preparation was evident in his chip on the 17th hole and his putting performance, with 27 putts in round one and 24 putts in round two.
Thanks to his stellar performance in round 2, McIlroy boosted his tournament score to 12 under par and established a dominant lead. He set a record for the largest 36-hole lead in Masters history. The previous record was a five-shot advantage, set by six golfers, of whom only the first, Harry Cooper, failed to win the championship at the 1936 Masters.
McIlroy now has an opportunity to become the 4th golfer to win two consecutive Masters tournaments, following Jack Nicklaus (1965-1966), Nick Faldo (1989-1990), and Tiger Woods (2001-2002).
The 2026 Masters features 91 golfers. The tournament continues to follow the rule of taking the top 50 scores, or those tied for 50th, to determine the cut-off at 4 over par. At this mark, all six amateur golfers and six former champions aged 50 or older were eliminated, along with formidable names such as J.J Spaun, Bryson DeChambeau, Cameron Smith, Daniel Berger, and Zach Johnson.
Debuting in 1934, the Masters is the youngest of the four men's golf major championships, following The Open (1860), the US Open (1895), and the PGA Championship (1916). Nevertheless, the tournament is renowned for its exclusivity and unique traditions. In the event's history, legend Jack Nicklaus, nicknamed "the Golden Bear", holds the record with 6 victories.
Quoc Huy
