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2026 Masters second round
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Despite the perfect weather at Augusta National, Round 1 proved challenging. The course’s fast and firm conditions resulted in a field scoring average of 74.65, the highest since 2017.
Recap of Day 1
The first-day leaderboard dazzled once more. Here are the key highlights and stats from Round 1 of the 90th Masters Tournament.
1. Rory McIlroy’s Strong Performance
Rory McIlroy, after years of facing recurring questions at Augusta, showed a newfound freedom in his game this year. He opened with a 67, marking only one bogey, just shy of the record for the lowest first-round score by a defending champion. McIlroy continued his excellent iron play, gaining three strokes on the field, placing him fifth in this stat among competitors.
2. McIlroy’s Lead and Historical Context
This marks McIlroy’s seventh time sharing a first-round lead in a major, with only a previous instance at the Masters in 2011. He’s the first defending champion to lead after 18 holes since Jordan Spieth in 2016, and only Jack Nicklaus has won consecutively after such a start.
3. Sam Burns: Rising Competitor
Joining McIlroy at the top is Sam Burns, who recorded his best Masters round with a 67. Previously struggling in this tournament, he now leads in greens in regulation and strokes gained tee to green, showcasing a vast improvement.
4. Notable Challengers
Tied for third at two shots back is 2018 champion Patrick Reed, who excelled with his putter, gaining over 3.5 strokes on the greens. Jason Day, with a 69, marked another strong start, while Kurt Kitayama also shot 69, highlighting an impressive performance.
5. Ups and Downs of Top Favorites
Pre-tournament favorites Bryson DeChambeau and Jon Rahm faced struggles, shooting 76 and 78 respectively. Notably, Rahm failed to make a single birdie, marking a first in his Masters career.
All five rounds in the 60s came from the first 15 groups, with subsequent groups averaging higher scores. Historically, successful Masters champions have scored par or better in their first rounds.
