Catch me if you can: McIlroy takes charge at Masters

An unshackled, roaring Rory McIlroy is threatening to run away with another Masters jacket after turning his title defence into a procession.

McIlroy will take a record-breaking six-shot lead into the weekend after following up his first-round 67 at Augusta National with a magical seven-under-par 65.

Bidding to join Jack Nicklaus, Tiger Woods and Nick Faldo as only the fourth man to win back-to-back Masters, McIlroy burst clear of the pack with six birdies in his last seven holes on Friday (Saturday AEST).

He crowned his storming finish with a chip-in on No.17 for his eighth birdie of the day, then nabbed a ninth at 18 to surge from six to 12 under in seemingly the blink of an eye.

By the time he was done, the six-time major winner wound up with the biggest halfway lead in Masters history.

“Look, I’ve always felt like this golf course can let you get on runs if you allow it,” McIlroy said.

“I talked last year about how I really won the tournament in a 14-hole stretch: the second nine on Friday and the first five holes on Saturday.

“So I knew I had some chances coming in when I was standing on the 12th tee, but I didn’t think I’d birdie six of the last seven. It just shows what you can do around here.”

Knowing what’s possible for him is for others too, McIlroy is refusing to claim victory just yet.

But in an alarming statistic for the chasing pack, the eventual champion has been within at least four shots of the lead at the past 14 editions of golf’s global showpiece.

On that trend, even Americans Sam Burns and 2018 champion Patrick Reed, who share second place at six under, are seemingly out of the race at the halfway mark.

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

“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.

“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.

“Staying in my own little world out there is the best thing.”

Having finally ended an 11-year wait to complete the fabled career grand slam with an emotion-charged play-off win in 2025, McIlroy vowed to continue playing with freedom on Masters moving day.

“Don’t get protective,” he said.

“Go out there and keep playing, keep trying to make birdies, stay as trusting and as committed as possible. Keep swinging.”

Burns (67-71) and Reed (69-69) are one stroke ahead of three-time runner-up and sentimental favourite Justin Rose (70-69), fellow Englishman Tommy Fleetwood (71-68) and Ireland’s Shane Lowry (70-69).

In a tie for seventh at four under and eight back of McIlroy, Jason Day (69-71) is the only Australian with the remotest of chances of reeling in the Northern Irishman. Former champion Adam Scott was the only other Australian to make the cut, but is a long, long way back.