The days go by, the pursuers change, but Rory McIlroy remains there. The Augusta Masters was a condemnation for more than a decade, when everyone reminded him that it was the great one he was missing, but now he has picked up steam and is walking towards a milestone that Jack Nicklaus, Nick Faldo and Tiger Woods, the three champions who repeated their victory the following year, did not achieve: dominating the edition of the revalidation from start to finish.
Rory has achieved perfect knowledge of Augusta National to perpetuate himself in first place for years. In the season when the Masters is being the Masters, with heat, hard greens, bright azaleas and the smell of pine needles, McIlroy plays the course as if he had a joystick. The irons are accurate, the drivers are explosive, and the wedges and putting are blessed. The example was the birdie on 16, which put the score at 10 under par. It was the seventh of the day. Two more would still fall. His Friday was on par with the best version of Tiger Woods that has been seen in 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, he reached the right slope and accelerated. And more. And the hubbub began. And more. And he stopped three inches from the flag to open a four-stroke difference with Sam Burns, who shared the lead on Thursday, and Patrick Reed, the LIV Golf fugitive, winner in 2018 at Augusta. But the 17th arrives, he throws it under some trees, takes it as best he can around the green and from there hits a shot that sneaks in after bouncing off the flag stick. Amazing.
Any of the statistics shown will put a smile on your face. In the 8 par 5s he has played he has not hit a fairway. It doesn’t matter. His balance is seven birdies and one par. And he has hit 36 greens in two days with just 51 putts. It is the second best off the tee in distance, the second around the green; the second with the putter… Statistics that demolish any attempt at insurrection.
The largest in history
Half of the tournament remains, but it is impossible to consider any name other than his. In addition to the two Americans who he has six strokes off – the highest in history after 36 holes – he is followed by Justin Rose, for a change, his friend Shane Lowry and Tommy Fleetwood, author of two eagles on Friday, at seven. Eight remain, among others, Kristofer Reinan, the surprising Norwegian whose wealthy family is a partner in Valderrama, and Haotong Li, the Chinese who woke up sick and was on the verge of quitting. He went out to play without stepping on the practice field and shot a 69.
McIlroy moved in a pendulum fashion. He raised the tone with three consecutive birdies, between 2 (par 5) and 4, and then he had doubtful moments. Two bogeys led him to tie with Reed before Amen Corner. They were difficult times for everyone, especially for the rival that all the previous ones had placed him, Scottie Scheffler, the number 1 in the world. He had a very uninspired Friday, with gross mistakes. He scored 74 shots and is 12 behind the presumed champion.
McIlroy, on Friday at the Masters
And there, at the Golden Bell, the 12th hole, the par 3 of the crosswinds, the festival began. From there the only thing he missed was finishing the 14th hole, the only stretch of Augusta National without bunkers. He didn’t hole out, but the putt he threw from side to side of the green to leave it less than a meter away was a significant success. Six birdies in the last seven holes. A resounding 65. If the disease does not invade him, the 2026 Masters will be his.
