Walking with McIlroy for his latest masterpiece: defending champion takes historic lead

He will head into Saturday second-last for driving accuracy, having failed to find a par-five fairway in either of his opening two rounds, and it scarcely mattered

Rory McIlroy hits his tee shot on the fourth hole during the second round of the Masters golf tournament at the Augusta National Golf Club, Friday, April 10, 2026, in Augusta, Ga. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)

On the right hand side of the 15th fairway is an incredulous Japanese golf fan wandering aimlessly with a forest-green chair in his hands and a beatific smile on his face. He had been sitting there moments earlier until Rory McIlroy hit a ball at him.

He was still enthralled by the defending champion. So was everyone else. Within minutes, all three of the closing holes at Augusta National Golf Club were echoing with the chant: “Rory! Rory! Rory!” The man bidding to become the fourth-ever back-to-back Masters winner was on his way to setting a new record for the largest 36-hole lead in Masters history.