- Rory McIlroy delivered a superb opening round at The Masters, battling hard to card a five-under-par 67 and seize a share of the clubhouse lead alongside Sam Burns.
- The 36-year-old, seemingly unburdened by the pressure of his ongoing major drought, showcased his formidable form, making five birdies across his final 11 holes and priming himself for further success at the tournament.
- However, a formidable field still stands in his way. This includes world number one and 2024 Masters champion Scottie Scheffler, who also made a strong start in hot pursuit of McIlroy on day one.
- A healthy group of European contenders also hopes to keep the coveted green jacket on this side of the Atlantic, with Tommy Fleetwood, Jon Rahm, Matt Fitzpatrick, Robert MacIntyre, and last year’s runner-up Justin Rose all poised to make their move.
- Leaderboard: -5 McIlroy (F), Burns (F); -3 Reed (F), Day (F), Kitayama (F); -2 Scheffler (F ), Rose (F), Lowry (F), Schauffele (F)
IN FULL
