Rory McIlroy reveals key to recording-breaking Masters lead that might upset PGA Tour
Rory McIlroy has been making the most of his access to Augusta National
Defending champion Rory McIlroy admitted additional time spent at Augusta National in the build-up to this week’s Masters has been key to his six-shot lead at the top of the leaderboard.
The 2025 winner said he got more out of those visits in the three weeks leading up to this year’s event than what he would have done playing in the PGA Tour tournaments that precede the opening major of the season.
An opening-day five-under-par score of 67 was accompanied by a seven-under-par 65 on Friday to put the Ulsterman on 12-under at the half-way stage in Georgia.
It also has the rest of the field scrambling for ways to rail McIlroy back in before it’s too late, with Sam Burns and Patrick Reed (six under) and Ryder Cup team-mates Justin Rose and Shane Lowry (five under) among the chasing pack.
McIlroy’s preparations for the Masters has always been a talking point as he’s looked for the winning formula that would land the famous jacket.
This year was no different as he opted not to play on the Tour in the build-up following a back injury that led him to withdraw from the Arnold Palmer Invitational.
Augusta National obligations following his win last year also ate into McIlroy’s title defence preparations, leading many to wonder how prepared he would be to successfully retain his crown.
However, speaking after recording the biggest lead after 36 holes of Masters competition, the 36-year-old confessed his recent exclusive visits had given him the ideal opportunity to familiarise himself with the challenges Augusta National can throw at players.
And that, to date, is proving invaluable, especially around the greens.
‘My short game the first two days has been amazing’, said McIlroy.
‘I've spent a lot of time up here over the past three weeks. Even though I haven't played tournament golf, I feel like being up here a lot and playing, I've prepared as well for this Masters as any other that I've played.
‘I think all that work around the greens over the last three weeks has certainly paid off over the last two days.
‘I've been on this golf course so much the last three weeks, and that's been a combination of practice and chipping and putting around greens, and then just playing one ball and shooting scores and ending up in weird places that you maybe never find yourself and just trying to figure it out.
‘I think just spending so much time up here has been a big part of it.’
The Houston Open and the Texas Open are the two tournaments traditionally used by players to fine tune their game before heading to Augusta.
Yet, McIlroy said flying in and out of Augusta was more worthwhile.
‘I honestly just don't like the three tournaments leading up to this event,’ he said
‘I'd rather come up here.
‘I did a couple of days where I dropped Poppy (daughter) to school, flew up here, played, landed back home and had dinner with her -- or had dinner with Erica (wife).
‘I did a couple of day trips like that where I felt it was a better use of my time than going to Houston or San Antonio.
‘It wasn't really about conserving energy, but just I felt the more time I could spend up here, the better.’