Rory McIlroy Shoots 67 to Lead 2026 Masters After Strong Opening Round

The 90th Masters Tournament began on Thursday at Augusta National Golf Club in Georgia, featuring a field of 91 players. m. ET alongside Cameron Young and amateur Mason Howell. McIlroy completed the round with a score of 67, tying Sam Burns for the lead at 5-under par.

McIlroy's performance included birdies on holes 6, 7, 9, 10, 13, 15, and 17. He reached even par early before gaining momentum on the front nine. The score positions him seven strokes ahead of his opening round position from the previous year.

The event drew a tightly packed, invite-only roster of golf's elite, including world No.

1 contenders and rising amateurs. Later groups featured Jon Rahm, Jordan Spieth, and Scottie Scheffler. m. ET, with full broadcasts in the early afternoon. A technical glitch disrupted the opening round, as reported by Newsweek.

The incident affected broadcast operations but did not alter player scores. Several players finished at 3-under par, three strokes behind the leaders. The group includes Kurt Kitayama, Jason Day, Patrick Reed, Justin Rose, and Scheffler.

Bryson DeChambeau recorded a higher score, placing him outside the top contenders.

won the 2025 Masters in a playoff against Justin Rose, completing his career Grand Slam.

Prior to that victory, he had experienced multiple near-misses and slow starts at the tournament. His 2026 opening round reflects a shift, with reports noting a more relaxed approach entering the event. " — Newsweek, 2026 The 36-year-old McIlroy enters the second round without the burden of completing the Grand Slam.

His strong start positions him to defend his title over the weekend. Contenders at 3-under will need to close the gap on Friday. The leaderboard remains competitive, with the smallest major championship field ensuring close scoring throughout.