McIlroy puts on incredible show

AUGUSTA, GA – Rory McIlroy delivered one of the most incredible finishes in major golf history with birdies on six of Friday’s last seven holes to seize a record six-stroke lead after 36 holes at the Masters.

Defying fast and firm conditions at Augusta National, McIlroy fired a seven-under-par 65 in the second round to stand on 12-under-par 132 at the midpoint of the year’s first major.

World No. 2 McIlroy’s closing run included holing out a spectacular 29-yard pitch at the par-four 17th hole and sinking a six-foot birdie putt at the 18th to break the old 36-hole record lead of five shots.

“Just an amazing end to the round,” McIlroy said. “When I was standing on the 12th tee, I didn’t imagine I would be six ahead going into the weekend.”

McIlroy, trying to become only the fourth player to capture back-to-back green jackets, sank seven-foot birdie putts at the par-three 12th and par-five 13th holes to start the epic run.

Patrick Reed, the 2018 Masters champion, missed a six-foot putt and made bogey at 18 to shoot 69 and share a distant second with fellow American Sam Burns on 138. A pack on 140 included China’s Li Haotong, Americans Wyndham Clark and Cameron Young, England’s Tyrrell Hatton and Australian Jason Day.