Rory McIlroy Shares Masters Lead With Sam Burns After 67 Opener

Rory McIlroy opened his Masters title defense with a 5-under 67, sharing the lead with Sam Burns.

“The Masters: Round one leaderboard -5 S Burns (US), R McIlroy (NI); -3 P Reed (US), J Day (Aus), K Kitayama (US) Selected: -2 J Rose (Eng), S Scheffler (US), S Lowry (Ire), X Schauffele (US); -1 T Fleetwood (Eng), A Rai (Eng), G Woodland (US); E K Bradley (US), J Spieth (US), J Thomas (US); +2 M Fitzpatrick (Eng), L Aberg (Swe); +3 V Hovland (Nor); +6 J Rahm (Spa); +8 R MacIntyre (Sco) Almost all the talk about Rory McIlroy in the build-up to this year's Masters related to the pomp”

BBC

It was his lowest opening round at Augusta since 2011.

BBC

Despite hitting only five of 14 fairways, McIlroy managed six birdies and one bogey.

He credited his ability to commit to good swings without worrying about where the ball went.

McIlroy is aiming to join Nicklaus, Faldo, and Woods as the only men to retain the Green Jacket.

McIlroy's round was a study in experienced score-building.

He didn't hit the ball well early but kept swinging.

CP24

From the eighth hole on, he played the last 11 holes in 5-under par.

His approach was about making good decisions and staying committed.

I still have high expectations of myself, but my expectations are more did I make good decisions.

The leaderboard was lined with major champions and veterans.

McIlroy and Burns led at five under, two shots clear.

World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler was three shots back at two under.

Only 16 players in the 91-man field finished under par.

McIlroy's round was only the third time in his career he shot under 70 on day one.