Rory McIlroy Shares the Lead at the Masters, While Australian Players Face Challenges at Augusta

Rory McIlroy showcased his experience as he expertly concluded his second round at The Masters with an impressive performance.

The reigning champion achieved six birdies in the final seven holes, finishing with a remarkable 7-under 65, giving him a six-shot lead that sets a new Masters record for 36 holes.

The final stretch of an eventful day began to feel like a celebratory tour.

After making three consecutive birdies early on, McIlroy found himself neck-and-neck with his longtime rival Patrick Reed, the 2018 champion, who matched the lead with a birdie on the par-3 12th. McIlroy had encountered a few errant shots as he approached the challenges of Amen Corner.

“Standing on the 12th tee, I didn’t envision being six shots ahead,” McIlroy reflected.

Before long, he was soaring comfortably ahead.

His tee shot over Rae’s Creek on the treacherous 12th landed roughly 2m beyond the flag. He birdied both par-5 holes after having to lay up from the trees on each occasion. The pin placement at the par-3 16th allowed him to secure what was essentially a tap-in birdie.

The crowd erupted when he completed a chip-in from a significant distance off the green on the 17th. McIlroy couldn’t see the hole from his position over the crest of the green, but he knew it was a good shot when he saw the grandstand begin to rise in excitement.

“That was a bonus,” he acknowledged.

He wasn’t done yet — a final, expertly executed approach brought him down the slope on the 18th for yet another birdie.

This brought his total to 12-under, six shots ahead of Reed and Sam Burns. The previous largest 36-hole lead at Augusta National was held at five shots by six players, most recently by Scottie Scheffler in 2022. Harry “Lighthorse” Cooper achieved this in 1936, yet he was the only player in that situation who did not go on to win the Masters.

Should McIlroy maintain his lead, he would become just the fourth golfer in history to win back-to-back Masters titles, alongside legends Jack Nicklaus, Nick Faldo and Tiger Woods.

He entered the final round with a two-shot lead after 36 holes in 2011, which had stretched to four shots before he ultimately fell apart with an 80. This marked the dawn of his Masters struggles, which lasted until last year, when he secured his first victory at Augusta National in a playoff.

The Masters 2026 second round leaderboard

“I’m aware of what can transpire here, both positively and negatively,” McIlroy mentioned with a grin. “There’s no need for reminders not to get ahead of myself. A lot can still happen. I got off to an incredible start.”

The weather at Augusta for the second round was superb, with warmer, brighter, and drier conditions. The wind was less intense, and gusts were more manageable. Generous pin placements led to scoring averages nearly two shots lower in the second round compared to the first.

Bryson DeChambeau experienced a second consecutive day of bunker woes, leading to his missed cut. He found himself a shot below the cut line on the 18th tee, and misfortune struck when his approach ended up in the sand beside the green. After two attempts to escape, he watched as the ball rolled off the front of the green and back onto the fairway. He chipped on and two-putted, ending with a triple bogey, missing the cut as a result.

Patrick Reed was bogey-free until he mismanaged the final hole, which cost him a place in the final group on Saturday alongside McIlroy. They had previously played the last round together in 2018, with Reed stunning McIlroy’s supporters by winning decisively.

Burns salvaged a round of 71 by birdieing his last two holes and will be pairing with McIlroy on Saturday.

Justin Rose, last year’s playoff runner-up to McIlroy, experienced a tough round but still shot a 69, placing him alongside Shane Lowry (69) and Tommy Fleetwood, who carded two eagles in his 68, all at 5-under 139 but now seven shots behind the leader.

Among the Australians, only Jason Day had a strong performance. He was well within reach of the leaders before McIlroy’s remarkable streak. Day recorded three birdies but also two bogeys on 11 and 18, the latter of which required him to chip out from the pine straw for his second shot. He stands at four-under overall, eight shots behind McIlroy.

Adam Scott’s day began at even-par, but he quickly fell behind with a bogey on the first hole. He managed birdies at the sixth and eighth, punctuated by another bogey on seven, and finished the front nine at even.

He encountered a birdie-bogey sequence on 15 and 16, and a wayward tee shot on the 18th resulted in a penalty leading to a double bogey. He stands at two-over for the tournament.

Min Woo Lee and Cameron Smith carried their troubled Thursday rounds into Friday, both ultimately missing the cut.

The Masters 2026 Third Round tee times