Rory McIlroy vowed midway through the Masters to “not defend” his record lead and “keep swinging” as he looks to defend his title in the first major of the year.
The Northern Irishman shot an impressive 65 in his round on Friday, reaching 12 under after 36 holes. He is six strokes behind Americans Sam Burns and Patrick Reed, who are tied for second place.
McIlroy’s stunning performance came 12 months after completing his career Grand Slam at Augusta National, a win that ended his 11-year wait for his fifth career major title.
The 36-year-old won his first major victory at the 2011 U.S. Open at Congressional Country Club, holding a six-stroke lead midway through and winning by eight strokes.
Use Chrome Browser for a more accessible video player
Rory McIlroy claimed he felt like he was “playing with house money” after shooting a second round 65 at Augusta and holding a record 36-hole lead at the Masters.
Asked after Friday’s round what advice he would take now from “Congressman Rory,” McIlroy said, “Don’t guard. Just go out there and play free and keep swinging.”
“A big part of the lesson from the 2011 Masters to the 2011 U.S. Open was don’t get defensive. Just go out there and keep playing, keep trying to get birdies, stay as confident as you can, keep being committed.”
McIlroy, who won his first Masters by defeating England’s Justin Rose in a playoff, was asked whether he would take the win over the weekend or run away from the field.
Use Chrome Browser for a more accessible video player
Highlights from Day 2 of the Masters at Augusta National.
He laughed and replied, “What do you think?
“Look, I’ve built up a nice cushion at this point. I think my mindset is just trying to keep playing well and keep my foot on the gas.”
“It’s not perfect, but it’s very efficient.”
Use Chrome Browser for a more accessible video player
Rory McIlroy revealed the advice he received from Jack Nicklaus before the second round of the Masters.
McIlroy’s incredible start was built on one of the most effective performances of his career, with the world No. 2 continually coming out of trouble in the opening two rounds.
That was most evident on Friday’s par-5 play, where McIlroy birdied three of the four long holes despite missing the fairway on every tee shot.
McIlroy was ideally positioned to approach his third shot, and he hit impressive wedges for birdies on the second, 13th and 15th holes.
Use Chrome Browser for a more accessible video player
Rory McIlroy sensationally holes out on 17th
McIlroy played the first two days alongside last year’s U.S. Amateur champion Mason Howell, and when asked what he thought the 18-year-old learned from his performance, he cited his own efficiency.
“I hope he understands that you don’t have to be perfect to shoot good scores,” McIlroy said.
“When I started playing tour events at 18 years old, I thought the pros didn’t make mistakes, but I think they saw a lot of my mistakes in the first two days.
“Again, I’ve regressed to my short game and wedge play. So it would be nice to see him be a player who, while not perfect, scores very efficiently, and I think that’s a big part of being successful at the professional level.”
“I feel like I’m playing with my family’s money.”
McIlroy, who has struggled with the weight of expectations over the past decade as he pursued a career Grand Slam at Augusta, displayed a much more relaxed demeanor at this year’s tournament.
He revealed how the feeling of “playing with home money” helped him overcome the difficult moments he faced in the first two days.
Use Chrome Browser for a more accessible video player
Watch highlights from the opening round as Rory McIlroy begins his Masters defense with a sensational 5-under 67 at Augusta.
McIlroy told Sky Sports Golf:
“I’m so happy to be here. This is a unique tournament, there’s no other tournament like this that we play. And to come back every year, I really wanted to win here, and thankfully I was able to do it last year.”
“That way, if you miss the fairway, you’re OK. If you miss the green, you’re OK. It makes you feel like you’re playing with the house’s money. It feels really good.”
Will McIlroy be able to defend his title at the Masters? Watch this year’s opening major match live exclusively on Sky Sports. Live coverage will continue on Saturday from 4.30pm on Sky Sports Golf, with additional coverage on Sky Sports+. Get and stream Sky Sports without a contract.
