'Keep swinging' - Rory McIlroy reveals game plan to protect biggest Masters lead after 36 holes
Defending champion Rory McIlroy has opened up a six-shot lead at the top of the Masters leaderboard.
Rory McIlroy insisted he’ll keep the foot on the gas as he opened up a six-shot lead at the top of the Masters leaderboard.
The defending champion said he’ll keep the ‘swinging’ approach that has already served him so well over the opening two days at Augusta National rather than changing tactics and adopting a more protective game plan to preserve his position at the head of the field after two days.
McIlroy went into day two as joint-leader alongside American Sam Burns after an opening-round 67.
Come Friday evening and a second-round seven-under-par score of 65, though, he stood alone at the top of the standings on 12-under and with the largest lead ever recorded after 36 Masters holes.
Burns will accompany the Holywood man in the final pairing on Saturday, with the duo teeing off on moving day at 2.50pm local time (7.50pm BST).
Only three reigning champions - Arnold Palmer, Ian Woosnam and Jordan Spieth - have enjoyed the lead going into Saturday at the Masters. None of them failed to maintain that advantage in the end.
However, McIlroy already has a strategy in place that will hopefully deny history repeating itself this time around.
‘I've built up a nice cushion at this point. I guess my mindset is just trying to keep playing well and keeping my foot on the gas,’ said McIlroy after his second round.
‘Don't protect it (the lead). Go out and play freely, keep swinging.
‘That was a big part of the lesson from the 2011 Masters, don't get protective.
‘Go out there and keep playing, keep trying to make birdies, stay as trusting and as committed as possible.’
McIlroy held a seven-shot lead o vereventual runner-up Justin Rose going into the final day of last year’s Masters, only to beat his Ryder Cup team-mate in a play-off.
That experience will remind him that anything is possible over the next two days of competition at Augusta National.
Yet the 36-year-old maintained he’ll keep focusing on what he is doing rather than the leaderboard and potential challenges.
‘I just want to go out and play two good rounds again,’ added McIlroy.
‘Obviously, this golf course has certain characteristics that guys can get on runs, guys can make eagles, you hear roars all over the golf course.
‘I think the next two days for me is really about focusing on myself. It's hard to avoid those big leaderboards out there, but I know that I've got a lead.
‘So I don't need to keep checking it all the time. So for me, just really focusing on myself and staying in my own little world out there is the best thing.’