The Masters

Rory had a good Day 1.

Rory looked very chilled & relaxed today, with the pressure now off he should be in the running again on the back 9 on Sunday. No clear favourites this year feels wide open.

1st Round Leaderboard
Burns, McIlroy -5
Kitayama, Day, Reed -3
Lowry, Schauffele, Rose, Scheffler -2

Justine had a chance for a share of the leaderboard. But instead dropped a couple of holes at the end of the round.

McIlroy starting well on Day 2 too.

Rose up the leaderboard as well.

I saw McIlroy's back nine. His driving wasn't great as he seemed to be spending far too much time in the trees. But his recovery shots and putting was out of the world.

He's got a 6 shot lead and he fully deserves it.

Rose and Fleetwood also doing well, and there are 6 Europeans in the top 10.

Mention to Tyrell Hatton for his 2nd round of 66. And he made a bogey at the last.

McIlroy’s driving was ranked 90th out of 91 but everything else was pretty much perfect.

Rory obviously has a green jacket fetish

2nd Round Leaderboard
McIlroy -12
Burns, Reed -6
Rose, Lowry, Fleetwood -5
Clark, Hatton, Li, Reitan -4

It's feeling a bit Tigereque. Rory is in an unenviable position, but no time to back off. The course has plenty of danger last year Rory went backwards on the final round back nine to fall into a playoff with Rose, he just needs to be smart. I would expect Rory will spend a little time on the range to sort out his crooked driving & then back to work.