Rory McIlroy dazzles and holds unprecedented Masters lead – greatness is on the horizon
The defending champion is heading for a second consecutive Masters crown after a scintillating second round
Birdie, birdie, birdie. Some start, Rory. After everyone at Augusta had spent the morning wondering who could jostle into position for the green jacket, along came the defending champion, the man of last April’s emotional triumph , to remind everybody what it takes to win here.
That four-hole stretch straight out of the gate on a hot Friday lunchtime at Augusta completely changed the tone of the day. No longer did this have the feel of a cluttered leaderboard, a peloton of golfers jostling for position before the great climb of this weekend. Instead, this became an outright chase, and McIlroy appears to have an extra gear.
As it turns out, it’s easier to race away from the pack when the monkey is off your back. Must be something to do with aerodynamics. Birdie, birdie, birdie, birdie.
Some finish, Rory. McIlroy knows more than most that two rounds will not win you a major, but the way he finished his second, extending his lead to six clear shots, makes it hard to imagine another outcome this weekend. The job is only half-done, but this performance from the Ulsterman has thus far been fairly ominous for his rivals – he holds the greatest 36-hole lead in Masters history.