The days go by, the pursuers change, but Rory McIlroy remains. The Masters was a torment for more than a decade, when everyone reminded him that it was the major he lacked, but now he has picked up momentum and is walking towards a milestone that Jack Nicklaus, Nick Faldo and Tiger Woods, the three champions who repeated victory the following year, did not achieve: to dominate the revalidation edition from start to finish.
Rory has reached perfect knowledge of Augusta National to perpetuate himself for years at the top. In the season when the Masters is being the Masters, with heat, hard greens, glowing azaleas and the smell of pine, McIlroy plays the course as if he had a joystick. The irons are accurate, the drivers explosive and the wedges and putting are blessed. The example was the birdie on 16, which put 10 under par on the scorecard. It was his seventh of the day. Two more would follow. His Friday was up there with the best version of Tiger Woods that has been seen on these lands.(Results)
The flag was down and the champion threw the ball 20 meters from the hole. Then it started to roll slowly and suddenly it reached the right slope and accelerated. And more. And the hullabaloo began. And more. And it stopped three feet from the flag to open a four-stroke lead over Sam Burns, who shared the lead on Thursday, and Patrick Reed, the LIV Golf fugitive and 2018 winner at Augusta. But then came the 17th, he threw it under some trees, got it out as best he could around the green and from there he hit a shot that bounced off the flagstick. Astonishing.
Any of the statistics that are shown smile on him. In the eight par-fives he has played, he has not hit a fairway. It doesn’t matter. His balance is seven birdies and one par. And he has dispatched 36 greens in two days with just 51 putts. He is the second best from the tee in distance, the second around the green; the second with the putter… Statistics that knock down any attempt at insurrection.
The greatest in history
There is still half the tournament to go, but it is impossible to consider any other name than his. In addition to the two Americans who are six strokes behind him – the largest in history after 36 holes – he is chased by Justin Rose, his friend Shane Lowry and Tommy Fleetwood, author of two eagles on Friday, seven strokes behind. Eight strokes behind, among others, are Kristofer Reinan, the surprising Norwegian whose wealthy family are members of Valderrama, and Haotong Li, the Chinese player who woke up sick and was about to withdraw. He went out to play without stepping on the practice field and shot a 69.McIlroy swung like a pendulum. He raised the tone with three consecutive birdies, between the 2nd (par 5) and the 4th, and then had doubtful moments. Two bogeys took him level with Reed before Amen Corner. These were difficult moments for everyone, especially for the rival that all the previews had placed him, Scottie Scheffler, the number one in the world. He had a very uninspired Friday, with gross errors. He signed for 74 strokes and is 12 behind the presumptive champion.
And there, at Golden Bell, the 12th hole, the par-3 with the crosswinds, the festival began. From there to the end, he only missed the 14th hole, the only stretch of Augusta National without bunkers. He didn’t hole out, but the putt he launched from side to side of the green to leave it less than a meter away was a success. Six birdies in the last seven holes. A resounding 65. If illness does not invade him, the 2026 Masters will be his.
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