Defending champ Rory McIlroy excels in tough conditions to share Masters lead
A year after finally completing golf's grand slam, Rory McIlroy was pleased to know he was still feeling a bit nervous as he teed off at the Masters.
Rory McIlroy hits from the 16th tee during the first round of the Masters at Augusta National on Thursday. McIlroy shares the lead with Sam Burns at five under. (Andrew Redington / Getty Images) After the career grand slam, a grand entrance.
Rory McIlroy , who last year became the sixth man to win all four major championships, got off to a spectacular start at the Masters on Thursday to claim a share of the lead with a five-under-par 67. In one sense, the pressure is off. No more wondering about winning a green jacket.
Yet he was relieved to feel those familiar butterflies on the first tee. “Look, we’re playing the first major of the year, it’s the Masters ,” he said, having overcome a slightly wobbly start to collect five birdies in his final 11 holes. “If I felt absolutely nothing on that first tee, that’s not a good sign.
“So it was nice to feel my hand shaking a little bit when the tee went into the ground, and struggle to put the ball on top of the tee. So I knew I was feeling it. That’s a good thing.
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