‘Rory may never lose’: McIlroy barreling toward a historic back-to-back at the Masters

AUGUSTA, Ga. — A winner in 1992 and making his 41st begin at Augusta National Golf Club, Couples has seen a few issues round right here. And as he appeared up at a acquainted title at the prime of the white leaderboards dotting the venerable format, he got here to a stark revelation.

“By the way, Rory (McIlroy) may never lose this thing again after last year,” Couples informed caddie Mark Chaney on the 12th gap Thursday.

It’s a take that may finally show incorrect, however maybe not anytime quickly. The defending champ is again in a massive method, having put apart the pomp and circumstance of his return down Magnolia Lane in an effort to deal with what can be an historic back-to-back efficiency.

After an idyllic near his second spherical, he’s acquired one arm (again) in the jacket.

McIlroy acquired away with a few free swings in the opening spherical, taking pictures a 5-under 67 that, by his estimation, deserved to be three pictures worse. But the rating was the rating, and it gave him a share of the lead.

There had been no such free ends on Friday afternoon, as McIlroy took management of the match with some creativity throughout a pivotal golden hour – making birdies on Nos. 13 and 15 after errant drives into the bushes, then bringing the patrons to their toes with a chip-in birdie from throughout the inexperienced on No. 17 to steal one other one and take a commanding lead.

“I’ve certainly had times where I felt like in the zone or in that flow state or whatever you want to call it,” McIlroy said. “Maybe this afternoon was one of those times. I would say maybe not in the zone, but I definitely found a sense of flow those last few holes.”

The largest 36-hole lead in Masters historical past coming into this week was 5 pictures. It had been finished six instances earlier than, most not too long ago by Scottie Scheffler in 2022, and solely as soon as – Harry Cooper method again in 1936 – did the chief not go on to win.

McIlroy’s closing birdie, a downhill 6-footer to shut out his spherical with 4 straight circles, polished off a 7-under 65 and despatched him into the weekend at 12 beneath. It additionally bumped his result in six pictures, etching his title into one other web page of the Augusta National report books.

This place that had taken a lot from him for thus lengthy now seems wanting to repay its money owed in brief order, as McIlroy sits midway to a different Masters victory as he appears to develop into simply the fourth back-to-back champion and first since Tiger Woods in 2001-02.

“I’ve built up a nice cushion at this point,” McIlroy mentioned. “I guess my mindset is just trying to keep playing well and keeping my foot on the gas.”

Granted, it gained’t be simple. Augusta National can vaporize a lead in a second’s discover, a reality of which McIlroy is acutely conscious from his 2011 collapse. Even final 12 months, a five-shot cushion with eight holes to play nearly wasn’t sufficient.

Patrick Reed, the man who beat him to the inexperienced jacket again in 2018, sits six pictures again in a tie for second. One shot additional adrift are a trio of McIlroy’s adorned Ryder Cup teammates:

Justin Rose, Tommy Fleetwood and Shane Lowry, every wanting to carve their very own chapter of Augusta National lore. But there is no such thing as a mistaking the indisputable fact that McIlroy is now in the driver’s seat in his quest to retain the inexperienced jacket he so dearly acquired final 12 months.

“I just want to go out and play two good rounds again,” McIlroy mentioned. “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.”

There is a clear freedom in McIlroy’s comportment this week. He spent the first few days soaking in the advantages of being the defending champion – attending the Augusta National Women’s Amateur on Saturday and the Drive, Chip and Putt competitors on Sunday. He savored the host position at Tuesday’s champions’ dinner, telling reporters that he deliberate to modify gears on Wednesday and deal with the competitors.

Through 36 holes, it seems that merely a return to this hallowed property served as a salve for the questions surrounding his sport in latest weeks. The sporadic type, the back injury that forced him to withdraw at Bay Hill, are all distant reminiscences. Rory McIlroy is in full flight at Augusta National, and it’s a sight to behold.

After lacking the reduce, Couples gained’t be a a part of the match on the weekend. But he nonetheless spoke after his second spherical, and – hours earlier than McIlroy distanced from the pack on the second 9 – he doubled down on his authentic feedback about the man that he’ll see at champions’ dinners for years to return.

“Rory might win every year. I said that yesterday,” Couples mentioned. “I mean, he really could win five more of these.”

At the very least, McIlroy seems to have inexperienced jacket No. 2 squarely in his sights.