Rory McIlroy admitted he had some nerves as he first teed off at the Masters on Thursday, but he seized control of the field and earned a big prediction after a “ridiculous” shot on Friday.
McIlroy made an unlikely chip shot for birdie on hole No. 17 on Friday, a shot that earned a big reaction online and vaulted him into a strong position among oddsmakers. McIlroy is aiming to become the first golfer to win back-to-back Masters titles in more than two decades, and will be in solid position heading into the weekend.
Rory McIlroy’s Shot Gives Him Strong Hold Over Masters Field
As Fox Sports contributor Patrick Everson noted, McIlroy’s “ridiculous” shot on No. 17 gave him a commanding lead against the field in odds to win the Masters.
“Masters Odds: After that ridiculous birdie from McIlroy, giving him a five-shot lead heading to No. 18 on Day 2, his in-play odds to repeat at Augusta [up to 64%],” Everson wrote in a post on X.
McIlroy admitted that he had a bit of anxiety as he teed off for the first time on Thursday, but said it made him feel good to be so nervous. After coming up short at August throughout his career, McIlroy finally broke through and won in a sudden-death playoff last year.
“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,” McIlroy said, via ESPN. “But I think it’s easier for me to make those swings and not worry about where it goes when I know that I can go to the Champions Locker Room and put my green jacket on and have a Coke Zero at the end of the day.”
McIlroy seemed to come out energized on Friday, ending with six birdies over the final seven holes and earning the biggest lead in Masters history after two rounds. His six-shot lead gave him more momentum for the weekend, but even McIlroy was surprised at how well he had performed.
“Standing on the 12th tee, I didn’t imagine being six shots ahead,” McIlroy said, via ESPN.
Rory McIlroy Succeeding Under Pressure
McIlroy is aiming to accomplish one of the rarest feats — winning a second Masters in a row, and leading the field the entire time. Only six other players even held a opening round lead a year after winning the Masters, and the only one of those to win a second time was Jack Nicklaus in 1966.
McIlroy admitted that last year’s win took off the pressure a bit.
“I said this when I came in on Tuesday,” McIlroy said. “I think winning a Masters makes it easier to win your second one, I do.”
After his historic round on Friday, McIlroy said he wasn’t taking anything for granted.
“I know what can happen around here, good and bad,” McIlroy said. “You don’t have to remind me not to get ahead of myself. There’s a long way to go. I got off to an amazing start.”
Rory McIlroy Gets Huge Masters News After ‘Ridiculous’ Shot on Friday