Trending Now - Rory Mcilroy Begins Masters Defense With Impressive 67, Ties for Lead

WHO:

ESPN - Rory McIlroy is in line to be the seventh reigning Masters champion to hold the 1st-round lead at the following Masters.

ESPN - Sam Burns shares the early lead with Rory McIlroy.

Newsweek - The PGA Tour made an announcement regarding Rory McIlroy following the first round of the Masters at Augusta National.

Daily Mail Sports - Robert MacIntyre, ranked No. 8 in the world, shot an eight-over-par 80 during his opening round at the Masters, placing him in a tie for 82nd.

ESPN - Rory McIlroy expressed that feeling anxious before the round is a good sign, stating, "I think it would be worrisome if I didn't feel that way because it definitely still means something to me."

ESPN - McIlroy mentioned, "There's still shots out there that you feel a little bit tight with, and you just have to stand up and commit to making a good swing and not worry about really where it goes."

ESPN - Rory McIlroy, Sam Burns, Justin Rose

Daily Mail Sports - Riath Al-Samarrai

WHAT:

ESPN - McIlroy's opening round of 5-under 67 is his lowest opening round at the Masters since 2011.

ESPN - McIlroy played holes 7, 14, and 17 in 1 under during the round.

ESPN - McIlroy stated, "I think winning a Masters makes it easier to win your second one, I do."

ESPN - Rory McIlroy's opening round at the Masters on April 9th, 2026, included a total of three birdies on the 13th, 14th, and 15th holes.

Daily Mail Sports - Robert MacIntyre shot an eight-over-par 80 during his opening round at the Masters, placing him in a tie for 82nd.

Daily Mail Sports - MacIntyre's performance included an obscene gesture during play, which drew attention due to Augusta National's strict rules.

ESPN - McIlroy's opening round included birdies on the 14th hole, which he played over par last year.

ESPN - McIlroy stated, "I kept swinging, just trusting that I'm going to find it eventually," reflecting on his performance during the first seven holes.

ESPN - McIlroy's round was described as a combination of patience and freedom, resulting in a 5-under 67, which is his lowest opening round at the Masters since 2011.

ESPN - Rory McIlroy's opening round at the Masters on April 9th, 2026, included a total of three birdies on the 13th, 14th, and 15th holes, despite hitting drives in or behind Augusta's pine trees.

ESPN - McIlroy's round was described as a combination of patience and freedom, resulting in a 5-under 67, which is his lowest opening round at the Masters since 2011.

ESPN - McIlroy stated, "I think winning a Masters makes it easier to win your second one, I do," reflecting on his experience as the reigning champion.

ESPN - McIlroy's opening round included birdies on the 13th, 14th, and 15th holes, despite hitting drives in or behind Augusta's pine trees.

ESPN - McIlroy expressed that a fair score for him based on his ball striking would have been 2-under.

ESPN - McIlroy noted that he had to make good decisions and avoid compounding errors during his round.

ESPN - McIlroy's opening round of 5-under 67 is his lowest opening round at the Masters since 2011.

ESPN - McIlroy hit only 5-of-14 fairways during his round.

ESPN - McIlroy stated, "I kept swinging, just trusting that I'm going to find it eventually," reflecting on his performance during the first seven holes.

ESPN - McIlroy expressed that feeling anxious before the round is a good sign, indicating that the competition still means something to him.

ESPN - McIlroy's round was described as "uniquely absurd" and highlighted his tendency for thrilling drama.

ESPN - Rory McIlroy's opening round at the Masters on April 9th, 2026, included a total of three birdies on the 13th, 14th, and 15th holes.

ESPN - McIlroy's round was described as a combination of patience and freedom, resulting in a 5-under 67, which is his lowest opening round at the Masters since 2011.

ESPN - McIlroy stated, "I think winning a Masters makes it easier to win your second one, I do," reflecting on his experience as the reigning champion.

ESPN - Rory McIlroy's opening round at the Masters on April 9th, 2026, included birdies on the 13th, 14th, and 15th holes, despite hitting drives in or behind Augusta's pine trees.

ESPN - McIlroy's round was described as a combination of patience and freedom, resulting in a 5-under 67, which is his lowest opening round at the Masters since 2011.

Daily Mail Sports - Robert MacIntyre shot an eight-over-par 80 during his opening round at the Masters, placing him in a tie for 82nd.

ESPN - Rory McIlroy's opening round included birdies on the 13th and 15th holes, despite hitting drives in or behind Augusta's pine trees, and he played the 14th hole, which he played over par last year, successfully this time.

ESPN - McIlroy stated, "I kept swinging, just trusting that I'm going to find it eventually," reflecting on his performance during the first seven holes.

ESPN - McIlroy's round was described as a combination of patience and freedom, resulting in a 5-under 67, which is his lowest opening round at the Masters since 2011.

ESPN - McIlroy expressed that he felt anxious before the round, stating, "I think it would be worrisome if I didn't feel that way because it definitely still means something to me."

ESPN - Rory McIlroy's opening round included birdies on the 13th, 14th, and 15th holes, despite hitting drives in or behind Augusta's pine trees.

ESPN - McIlroy stated, "I didn't hit the ball very well the first seven holes, and sometimes here that would lead me to get tentative and a little guide-y."

ESPN - McIlroy expressed that a fair score for him based on his ball striking would have been 2-under.

ESPN - McIlroy noted that he felt more in control during this round compared to previous years, stating, "the steering wheel he had gripped so hard for over a decade was now comfortably in his control."

ESPN - Rory McIlroy is in line to be the seventh reigning Masters champion to hold the 1st-round lead at the following Masters.

ESPN - Only one of the previous six reigning champions who held the 1st-round lead went on to win the tournament.

ESPN - McIlroy's opening round of 5-under 67 is his lowest opening round at the Masters since 2011.

ESPN - McIlroy made birdies on the 13th, 14th, and 15th holes during his round.

ESPN - McIlroy played holes 7, 14, and 17 in 1 under during the round.

ESPN - McIlroy stated, "I think winning a Masters makes it easier to win your second one, I do."

ESPN - Rory McIlroy shot a 5-under 67 in the first round of the Masters.

ESPN - McIlroy shares the early lead with Sam Burns.

ESPN - This is McIlroy's lowest opening round at the Masters since 2011.

ESPN - McIlroy hit only 5-of-14 fairways during his round.

ESPN - McIlroy made birdies on the 13th, 14th, and 15th holes.

ESPN - McIlroy expressed that a fair score for him would have been 2-under based on his ball striking.

ESPN - McIlroy noted that he had to make good decisions and avoid compounding errors during his round.

Daily Mail Sports - McIlroy's round was described as "uniquely absurd" and highlighted his tendency for thrilling drama.

WHERE:

ESPN - Augusta National Golf Club, Augusta, Georgia

Daily Mail Sports - Augusta National

WHEN:

ESPN - The first round of the Masters took place on April 9th, 2026.

Sportskeeda - The first round of the Masters took place on Thursday, April 9th, 2026.

ESPN - The first round of the Masters took place on Thursday, April 9th, 2026.

Sportskeeda - The first round of the Masters took place on Thursday, April 9th, 2026.

ESPN - The first round took place on Thursday, April 7th, 2026.

ESPN - McIlroy's victory at the Masters occurred in 2025.

WHY:

ESPN - McIlroy expressed that feeling anxious before the round is a good sign, indicating that the competition still means something to him.

ESPN - McIlroy stated that feeling anxious before the round is a good sign, indicating that the competition still means something to him.

HOW:

ESPN - McIlroy opted for a more aggressive approach by hitting driver instead of 3-wood on holes 7, 14, and 17 during his round.

ESPN - Rory McIlroy opted for a more aggressive approach by hitting driver instead of 3-wood on all three holes (7, 14, and 17) during his round.

ESPN - McIlroy adopted a more aggressive approach by hitting driver instead of 3-wood on holes 7, 14, and 17, playing them in 1 under.

ESPN - McIlroy opted for a more aggressive approach by hitting driver instead of 3-wood on holes 7, 14, and 17, playing them in 1 under.

ESPN - McIlroy adopted a more aggressive approach by hitting driver instead of 3-wood on holes 7, 14, and 17.

ESPN - McIlroy adopted a more aggressive approach on certain holes, opting to hit driver instead of 3-wood on holes 7, 14, and 17.

(UPDATED April 10, 2026 23:06 UTC)

Rory McIlroy is in a strong position at the Masters, holding the first-round lead alongside Sam Burns after shooting a 5-under 67, his best opening round at the tournament since 2011. McIlroy played strategically, opting for a more aggressive approach by using a driver on key holes, and he noted that winning a Masters makes it easier to secure a second title. The first round of this year's Masters took place on Thursday.

(UPDATED April 10, 2026 21:08 UTC)

The PGA Tour announced news regarding Rory McIlroy following his opening round at the Masters on Thursday. McIlroy finished the round with three birdies on the 13th, 14th, and 15th holes, while Robert MacIntyre struggled with an eight-over-par 80, placing him in a tie for 82nd. The first round of the prestigious tournament took place on Thursday, on Thursday.

(UPDATED April 10, 2026 17:13 UTC)

In the opening round of the Masters on Thursday, Robert MacIntyre, ranked No. 8 in the world, struggled with an eight-over-par 80, landing him in a tie for 82nd place. His performance was further highlighted by an obscene gesture during play, which caught attention given Augusta National's strict rules. Meanwhile, Rory McIlroy took a bold approach by using a driver instead of a 3-wood on all three holes, 7, 14, and 17, during his round.

(UPDATED April 10, 2026 15:17 UTC)

Rory McIlroy kicked off the Masters with a strong performance, finishing his opening round with a score of 5-under 67, marking his best start at the tournament since 2011. He expressed that feeling anxious before the round is a good sign, emphasizing the importance of trusting his swing despite some tight moments on the course. McIlroy's strategy included a more aggressive approach, opting for a driver on key holes, which helped him secure birdies on the 14th hole, a hole he struggled with last year.

(UPDATED April 10, 2026 13:22 UTC)

Rory McIlroy delivered an impressive performance during his opening round at the Masters on Thursday, finishing with a score of 5-under 67, his best start at the tournament since 2011. Despite hitting only 5-of-14 fairways and navigating tricky drives behind Augusta's pine trees, McIlroy showcased a mix of patience and freedom, making birdies on the 13th, 14th, and 15th holes. Reflecting on his experience as the reigning champion, he noted that feeling anxious before the round is a positive sign, emphasizing that the competition still holds significant meaning for him.

(UPDATED April 10, 2026 09:20 UTC)

Rory McIlroy had an impressive opening round at the Masters on Thursday, finishing with a 5-under 67, which marks his lowest start at the tournament since 2011, thanks to three birdies on the 13th, 14th, and 15th holes. Reflecting on his experience as the reigning champion, McIlroy noted that winning a Masters makes it easier to secure a second title, and he expressed that feeling anxious before the round is a positive sign of his competitive spirit. He also took a more aggressive approach by opting for a driver instead of a 3-wood on holes 7, 14, and 17, playing those holes in 1 under.

(UPDATED April 10, 2026 07:22 UTC)

Rory McIlroy had an impressive opening round at the Masters on Thursday, finishing with a score of 5-under 67, his best start at the tournament since 2011, thanks to birdies on the 13th, 14th, and 15th holes. Despite facing challenges with drives landing in or behind Augusta's pine trees, McIlroy's performance was marked by a blend of patience and freedom, and he noted that feeling anxious before the round is a positive sign of his competitive spirit. In contrast, Robert MacIntyre struggled, shooting an eight-over-par 80, which placed him in a tie for 82nd.

(UPDATED April 10, 2026 05:40 UTC)

Rory McIlroy had an impressive opening round at the Masters on Thursday, finishing with a score of 5-under 67, his best opening round at the tournament since 2011. Despite hitting drives in or behind Augusta's pine trees, he managed to secure birdies on the 13th and 15th holes and successfully played the 14th hole, which had troubled him last year. McIlroy reflected on his performance, saying he felt anxious before the round but remained patient and trusted his swing, emphasizing that the tournament still means a lot to him.

(UPDATED April 10, 2026 03:59 UTC)

Rory McIlroy had a strong opening round at Augusta, showcasing his skills with birdies on the 13th, 14th, and 15th holes, despite some challenges with his drives. He acknowledged that while he struggled with his ball striking early on, he felt more in control during this round compared to previous years, stating that the steering wheel he had gripped so tightly for over a decade was now comfortably in his control. McIlroy also took a more aggressive approach by opting for driver instead of 3-wood on several holes, ultimately finishing the round at 1 under on those specific holes.

(UPDATED April 10, 2026 01:23 UTC)

Rory McIlroy is poised to become the seventh reigning Masters champion to hold the first-round lead at the following Masters after finishing with an impressive opening round of five-under par 67, his best start at the tournament since 2011. During his round, McIlroy made birdies on the 13th, 14th, and 15th holes, and he played holes 7, 14, and 17 at one under by opting for a more aggressive strategy with his driver. Reflecting on his experience, McIlroy remarked that winning a Masters makes it easier to secure a second title.

(UPDATED April 9, 2026 23:15 UTC)

Rory McIlroy shot a 5-under 67 in the first round of the Masters at Augusta National Golf Club, sharing the early lead with Sam Burns. This marks McIlroy's lowest opening round at the Masters since 2011, and he made birdies on the 13th, 14th, and 15th holes, although he hit only 5-of-14 fairways during his round. McIlroy described feeling anxious before the round as a good sign, indicating that the competition still means something to him, and he adopted a more aggressive approach on certain holes, opting for driver instead of 3-wood on holes 7, 14, and 17.