WATCH: 'Right now he could walk on water' - Rory McIlroy magic chip-in birdie in commanding Masters second round for six-shot lead
Rory McIlroy’s grip on his first Masters green jacket took a second significant step towards securing a second in a row with another assured Augusta round on Friday that left him six clear of the field.
A series of birdies offered the Northern Ireland hero an encouraging start to his Thursday title defence to leave McIlroy in a top spot share after round one on a five-under-par 67 alongside Sam Burns.
His second round managed to maintain that momentum with three successive shots gained across holes two to four before a stunning finish of six birdies off the closing seven holes.
McIlroy approached Friday’s challenge with the confidence discussed during his week-long build-up to a return of his career highlight in 2025.
Now, having become one of six players in the grand slam club off a majors clean sweep, McIlroy sits in command of becoming the fourth in history to retain the Masters.
Bogey blues at the fifth and 10th offered rare black marks on a scoreboard bolstered with back-leg birdies – back-to-back over 12 and 13 before four to finish from the 15th to 18th.
He moved to 11 under with a superb chip-in birdie from 30 yards on 17 – a piece of magic which Sky Sports Golf’s Ewen Murray celebrated as “right now he could walk on water”,
His Sky Sports Golf colleague Rich Beem added: “How is the lie?! Thank you very much! What a moment, what a shot.
"Rory McIlroy stamping his authority in this Masters Friday.
"We were wondering how the players were going to deal with the firm and fast Augusta conditions.
"Rory McIlroy is dialled in.
“A raise of the arm like a sword going 'yes, I am conquering, you must bow to me.”
And McIlroy delivered one final flourish with a closing birdie to sit 12-under-par overall off a 65 – clear of both Burns and Patrick Reed by six.
Sky Sports Golf's Murray said: "That finish will be talked about for some time to come. Six birdies in the last seven holes and he has taken a firm grip on the defence of his title.
"That was a special day."