In an impressive display during the second round of the Masters, Rory McIlroy has established a significant lead, while Jason Day faltered on the final hole. The reigning champion, McIlroy, recorded six birdies in his last seven holes, highlighted by a remarkable chip-in at the 17th, bringing his total to 12-under for the tournament. He aims to become the first golfer since Tiger Woods to win back-to-back Masters titles, a feat achieved by only three others in the event’s storied history.
McIlroy’s performance has secured him the largest 36-hole lead in Masters history, sitting six strokes ahead of his nearest competitors, despite not finding the fairway on any of Augusta’s par-fives so far. “Even when I am missing the fairway, I remind myself to just keep swinging,” he stated.
Having completed his career Grand Slam with a victory in Georgia last year, McIlroy has noted a sense of liberation in his game, though he remains acutely aware of the potential pitfalls, reflecting on past near-misses after more than a decade of competing in the tournament. “I know what can happen around here, both good and bad,” he acknowledged, recalling a time in 2011 when he lost a three-stroke lead on the final nine holes. “You don’t need to remind me to stay grounded here. We’ll reset and start again at even par tomorrow.”
Historically, the eventual champion has been within four shots of the lead in the last 14 Masters tournaments, presenting a daunting challenge for those trying to catch up. Tied for second place at 6-under are Patrick Reed, the 2018 champion, and fellow American Sam Burns, who has yet to finish better than seventh in a major. English golfer Tommy Fleetwood finds himself alongside Justin Rose and Shane Lowry, one shot further back, while Day is grouped with six other players at 4-under.
Day had been competitive throughout the day, showing promise with a 2-under front nine. However, a bogey at the 11th and a birdie at the 14th led to disappointment as he missed the chance for consecutive birdies at the par-five 15th. In a twist of fate, both McIlroy and Reed encountered difficulties in the trees, which seemed to offer Day a glimmer of hope. Yet, McIlroy rebounded with a birdie on the 13th, and Reed managed to save par. Fleetwood surged ahead of Day after achieving his second eagle of the day on the 15th hole.
Day would have left the course satisfied with his round had he not bogeyed the par-four 18th, where his tee shot veered into the trees. He concluded the round with a score of 69, placing him at 4-under and tied for seventh, while McIlroy pulled ahead, leading by eight strokes.
Adam Scott, the 2013 champion, also struggled towards the end of his round, finishing with a double bogey that brought his score to 2-over, but he managed to make the cut. In contrast, Bryson DeChambeau, the 2025 runner-up, fell to 6-over after a double bogey on the 18th hole, missing the cut.
Australian golfer Min Woo Lee experienced a disappointing end to his tournament, missing the cut after a lackluster performance. The world number 25 followed a first-round score of 78 with a 77, finishing the championship at 11-over-par. After starting the second round with an even-par front nine, his game deteriorated, resulting in a troubling sequence of double bogeys and bogeys from holes 12 to 15.
Entering the major with high hopes following a series of top-10 finishes on the PGA Tour, Lee expressed his frustration at his performance. “Making only two birdies in 36 holes isn’t going to cut it. I didn’t play my best at all,” he lamented. “The preparation was outstanding, and you’d think I would be contending for the title given my recent form, but it felt strange on the course.” He concluded the tournament tied for 86th position, far from the top half of the leaderboard.
Joining Lee in missing the cut was compatriot Cameron Smith, the 2022 British Open champion, who had a tumultuous second round, recording two birdies alongside five bogeys and a double on the 16th, finishing at 7-over through two rounds.
