'No (expletive) Double Bogeys:' Jack Nicklaus' Masters Advice To Rory McIlroy

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Jack Nicklaus is aware of a factor or two about profitable back-to-back inexperienced jackets at Augusta National Golf Club in the Masters Tournament.

So, what was the advice to attain that feat from the six-time Masters champion to Rory McIlroy earlier than Thursday’s first spherical?

The 2025 Masters Tournament champion shared that piece of advice with CBS Sports’ Amanda Balionis earlier than he teed off in Friday’s second round, which created an immediate giggle between the 2 with Nicklaus listening in from inside Butler Cabin.

“No (expletive) double bogeys,” McIlroy informed Balionis. “Apparently, he thought I made too many last year.”

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To Nicklaus’ level, McIlroy completed with 4 double bogeys final 12 months at Augusta National Golf Club, together with a pair on Sunday, which just about price him profitable the primary golf main of the season as he had to go right into a playoff with Justin Rose.

“When he won the Masters here last year, he now doesn’t have anything more to accomplish. He won the Grand Slam, won all the majors. But he’s got a lot more to prove. He’s still a young guy,” Nicklaus informed Terry Gannon inside Butler Cabin after Balionis’ interview with McIlroy.

“He’s a great player. The remark I made to him yesterday was that Rory always makes double bogeys or triple bogeys here, which puts him out of the tournament. But maybe now that you’ve won it, he’s a little bit more relaxed and he’s now ready to go prove a little bit more.”

There hasn’t been a back-to-back Masters champion since Tiger Woods did so in 2001 and 2002.

Rory McIlroy Masters scorecard: Round 2 highlights, Friday leaderboard

McIlroy’s chase for a second consecutive inexperienced jacket obtained off to a strong start on Thursday, as he shot 67, which put him at 5-under par and in first place on the leaderboard going into Friday. He recorded six birdies in his first round, along with his 67 rating tied for the third lowest first spherical by a defending champion within the historical past of the Masters.

He’s additionally double-bogey-free on the time of this writing. He completed with only one bogey within the first spherical, which got here on the par-4 No. 3 gap.

McIlroy will now look to head into the weekend along with his spot nonetheless atop the leaderboard, as his second round got underway at 1:44 p.m. ET on Friday. He’ll additionally look to keep double-bogey-free (and hold Nicklaus off his case for someday extra) on the identical time.

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See photographs of Rory McIlroy tied for the lead after Round 1

On Thursday at Augusta National, the Masters begins with custom, persistence and the regular stress that comes with the opening spherical.

These photographs seize Rory McIlroy’s recreation throughout Thursday’s opening spherical.

Above, Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland performs his shot from the fifth tee throughout the first spherical of the Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club on April 9, 2026 in Augusta, Georgia.