Rory McIlroy’s Masters title defense at this year’s 90th edition at Augusta National is off and running with eye-opening momentum.
McIlroy probably couldn’t have asked for more out of his first tournament round at Augusta since he captured his first green jacket last year to complete the career Grand Slam.
He opened with a 5-under-par 67 and walked off the course tied for the lead. It was his second-best first round score of his career, bested only by the 65 he shot in 2011.
Rory McIlroy reacts after holing a birdie putt on the green of the 15th hole during the first round of The Masters on April 9, 2026. REUTERS It, too, was only McIlroy’s third opening round in the 60s in his 18 Masters starts.
“The thing for me over the last 10 years was I was chasing not only my first Masters, but also trying to win the Grand Slam,’’ McIlroy said. “When I teed it up on the first hole today, I still felt nervous, but I settled into the round rather nicely.
“And, when I hit it into the trees early in the round, I was like, ‘OK, I’ll figure it out.’ That was difference this year.’’
McIlroy played his first seven holes in even par and jump-started the round on the par-5 8th hole, where he hit a great punch approach shot onto the green to make birdie. He would go on to birdie Nos. 9, 13, 14 and 15 on his way home
“I’m proud of how I scored today when I didn’t really drive the ball particularly well on the front nine,’’ McIlroy said. “But I was able to scramble and make some pars. From the eighth hole on, I played the last 11 holes in 5-under par.
“I’m proud of how I hung in there in the first few holes when I didn’t quite have it and it was nice to see a few birdies later in the round.’’
Rory McIlroy chips onto the green of the 7th hole during the first round of The Masters on April 9, 2026. REUTERS When McIlroy finished his round, McIlroy was tied with Sam Burns for the lead, with Burns’ 67 his lowest-ever round at the Masters.
Jason Day, Patrick Reed and Kurt Kitayama all were two shots back at 3-under par.
For McIlroy, he’d excluded a vibe of sheer comfort all week, and that comes with knowing you’re a Masters champion forever, with his own space in the champions locker room.
“Sometimes I still have to catch myself and am like, ‘Yeah, I do get to come back here every year,’” he said. “It’s such a thrill to be up there with all the other champions. I’ll probably go up there now, have a little drink and call it a day.’’
