Rory McIlroy pulls away with birdie binge, sets Masters record with six-shot lead at halfway mark
AUGUSTA, Ga. — The only thing that stopped Rory McIlroy in the Masters was running out of holes to play Friday. McIlroy stood on the 12th tee in a tie with Patrick Reed and with a dozen other players bunched together in what was shaping up to be a compelling chase for the green jacket.
Six birdies over his final seven holes for a 7-under 65 left everyone to wonder if they were playing for second. McIlroy’s fourth straight birdie to close out the best round of the week gave him a six-shot advantage, setting the Masters record for largest 36-hole lead. “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,” he said.
“It just shows what you can do around here. ” He did it in spectacular fashion. McIlroy twice made birdie on the par 5s after laying up from the trees.
He twice had short putts on the par 3s. And if all that wasn’t enough, he chipped in from 30 yards up a slope so steep he couldn’t even see the hole. The final hour of a fascinating day started to look like a victory lap for McIlroy, who spent 17 years trying to win the Masters and now looks like he can’t wait to do it again.
His tee shot over Rae’s Creek on the dangerous 12th hole landed 7 feet behind the flag. He birdied both par 5s after having to lay up from the trees. He took advantage of the lower pin at the par-3 16th for what amounted to a tap-in birdie.
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