Rory McIlroy ‘kept swinging away’ as he hails ‘great start’ to Masters

“I thought I would feel different but then I put my tee in the ground and my ball on the tee on the first hole and I felt the same nerves I always feel.

“I felt I settled into my round quickly. Wherever I hit it on this course I’ve seen it all over the past 18 years so I always think I can figure it out, get to the front of the green and find a par. I did that on the front nine.

“I was swinging freely even when I was missing tee shots on the front nine, I still kept swinging away, I didn’t get tentative, hoping sooner or later I’d find it and I did.

“It’s a great start, I’m right in the tournament and it’s a lot better than starting from seven behind going into the second round like I was last year.

“But I can’t get ahead of myself as there’s a long way to go but (I’m) feeling good where I’m at.”

Jamie Braidwood10 April 2026 08:28

Rory McIlroy cheered by ‘great start’ as he seeks back-to-back Masters victories

Defending champion Rory McIlroy basked in the warm Georgia sunshine and the glory of his return to Augusta to lay down a marker in his bid for rare back-to-back Masters wins with a share of the first-round lead.

The Northern Irishman, seeking to become only the fourth man after Jack Nicklaus, Tiger Woods and Sir Nick Faldo to retain the green jacket, burst into life following a nondescript seven holes in which he struggled with his driving.

Carl Markham 10 April 2026 07:27

The Masters 2026 second-round tee times and how to watch on TV

The Masters is underway with defending champion Rory McIlroy in the box seat heading into day two after a superb opening round of 67, to hold the joint lead alongside Sam Burns at five-under.

McIlroy took a little while to warm up on the opening day but hit his straps in the second half of his round, making five birdies over the final 11 holes to immediately set himself up as the man to catch once again.

Here’s everything you need to know ahead of the second round:

Luke Baker10 April 2026 00:55

Familiarity breeds success for surging Rory McIlroy on Masters opening day

So much of the charm and success of The Masters is based around the consistency and familiarity of the tournament.

You turn on the television and you see those familiar vibrant green shades, the shimmering water on 12, the pinks and the creams of the blooming foliage. The course is the same every year, the traditions are the same every year, and you can throw tariffs, trade wars and the Strait of Hormuz at Augusta but sandwich prices will still be the same every year.

But as far as continuity goes, having last year’s winner, Rory McIlroy, tied for the lead after the first round of this year’s tournament at -5 might be a little bit much.

Perhaps time is simply a flat circle and we’re stuck in a seamless loop of Masters championships, unable to see where one ends and the next begins.

Or perhaps, just perhaps, he remains one of the best golfers on Earth, now experienced enough in tickling a ball around this verdant corner of northern Georgia to know the course well – and to be able to profit from those historic heartbreaks and failures.

Read Ed Malyon’s full report from Augusta:

Ed Malyon at Augusta National10 April 2026 00:45

Masters 2026: Scheffler and Woodland wrap it up

One final tester on the 18th green for Scottie Scheffler but he rolls it in to card an opening round of 70. He was some good putting away from tying Rory McIlroy and Sam Burns at the top but instead is three shots back at -2.

Playing partner Gary Woodland will sign for a one-under 71 after a good display but the third member of that three-ball Bob MacIntyre shot a disastrous eight-over round of 80.

Leaderboard: -5 McIlroy (F), Burns (F); -3 Reed (F), Day (F), Kitayama (F); -2 Scheffler (F ), Rose (F), Lowry (F), Schauffele (F)

(Getty Images)

Luke Baker10 April 2026 00:24

Masters 2026: Frustrating finish for Rosey

That’s an irritating finish for Justin Rose, who adds a bogey at 18 to his one at 17. He drops for -4 to -2 in the blink of an eye and cards a round of 70. It’s a very good opening round but the Englishman will know it could have been so much better.

Brooks Koepka also bogeys 18 as he drops from -1 to Evens. A 72 for the five-time major champion who quietly went about his business today.

Leaderboard: -5 McIlroy (F), Burns (F); -3 Reed (F), Day (F), Kitayama (F); -2 Scheffler (16), Rose (F), Lowry (F), Schauffele (F)

(REUTERS)

Luke Baker9 April 2026 23:55

Masters 2026: Disaster for MacIntyre

Disaster for Bob MacIntyre. He disintegrates at the 15th and cards a quadruple bogey nine. Ouch! The Scot is out to +7.

A bogey for Justin Rose at the 17th with a jabby putt not being holed. Back to -3. And he’s not the only one making mistakes with the flat stick…

Scottie Scheffler with a glorious birdie opportunity at 15 but the ball catches the right lip and spins out. He’s at -2 but if his putter was hot today he’d be up there with the leaders…

Leaderboard: -5 McIlroy (F), Burns (F); -3 Rose (17), Reed (F), Day (F), Kitayama (F); -2 Scheffler (15), Lowry (F), Schauffele (F)

(AP)

Luke Baker9 April 2026 23:33

Masters 2026: Latest leaderboard

Into the closing stages of the opening round at Augusta.

-5 McIlroy (F), Burns (F);

-3 Reed (F), Day (F), Kitayama (F);

-2 Scheffler (14), Woodland (14), Lowry (F), Schauffele (F)

-1 Koepka (17), Griffin (16), English (14), Fleetwood (F), Li (F), Taylor (F), Campbell (F), Rai (F), Bridgeman (F)

Luke Baker9 April 2026 23:29

Masters 2026: Debutant Bridgeman with a grandstand finish

Genesis Invitational winner Jacob Bridgeman finishes with a flourish as he chips in from off the green for birdie on the 18th. That takes him to -1, a round of 71 and a tie for 11th – very impressive from the debutant.

Meanwhile, Justin Rose does what he has all day and takes advantage of the par fives! Four par fives, four birdies for last year’s runner-up as he makes a four at the 15th. Back up to -4, one shot off the lead…

But it’s the old problem for Scottie Scheffler – a glorious approach shot on the 14th but the putter lets him down and a birdie chance goes begging. He stays at -2.

Leaderboard: -5 McIlroy (F), Burns (F); -4 Rose (15); -3 Reed (F), Day (F), Kitayama (F); -2 Scheffler (14), Woodland (14), Lowry (F), Schauffele (F)

(REUTERS)

Luke Baker9 April 2026 23:08

Masters 2026: Tough scoring at Augusta

Scoring has definitely slowed this evening and even the previously flawless Justin Rose has a first blemish on the scorecard with a bogey at 14.

Aaron Rai and Jordan Spieth both drop from -2 to -1 as well. There are currently just 17 players under par, so anything in the red is a great effort.

Leaderboard: -5 McIlroy (F), Burns (F); -3 Rose (14), Reed (F), Day (F), Kitayama (F); -2 Scheffler (13), Woodland (13), Lowry (F), Schauffele (F)

Luke Baker9 April 2026 22:48