Rory McIlroy holds share of Masters lead after flying start to his title defence

So this is what Rory McIlroy’s new normal looks like. The defending champion is footloose and fancy-free at Augusta National. He is plainly no longer of a mind to revel in the events of the 2025 Masters. McIlroy returned to Augusta, for so long a place that exacted psychological torture on him, to deliver an emphatic statement. The floodgates are wobbling.

Parallels between McIlroy on day one at this major and his win 12 months ago are valid. In both instances he played swashbuckling, theatric golf (and not always from fairways). Rafa Nadal, anxious to watch every swing from the galleries, must have admired what he witnessed. After round one, McIlroy is firmly on course to become only the fourth man to successfully defend at Augusta. Those who believed the 36-year-old’s history-making concluded with playoff glory over Justin Rose last year may be sorely mistaken.

By the time McIlroy strode from the 18th green, he shared the lead with Sam Burns. A 67 was just one shot shy of the best first-round score by a reigning Masters champion.

In the early stages of his day, the Northern Irishman had to scrap and scrape. By the 8th, where he drilled a glorious fairway wood from semi-rough, he was back in the groove. Birdies there plus the 9th, 13th, 14th and 15th gave McIlroy cause to beam. Par was saved at the last despite the finding of sand from the tee.

Onlookers wanted McIlroy to feel different at the onset of his professional duties. He had played 62 previous rounds at Augusta; none as a Masters champion and grand slam winner. “I was nervous, I was anxious just like I always am on that 1st tee,” McIlroy said. “It’s the first round of the major season, the first round of the 16 most important rounds of the year.

“I’m thankful that I felt the same as I always have. I think it would be worrisome if I didn’t feel that way because it definitely still means something to me.”

Yet McIlroy is unquestionably unburdened. “I think winning a Masters makes it easier to win your second one,” he said. “There’s still shots out there that you feel a little bit tight with. You just have to stand up and commit to making a good swing and not worry about really where it goes.

“But I think it’s easier for me to make those swings and not worry about where it goes when I know that I can go to the champions’ locker room, put my Green Jacket on and have a Coke Zero at the end of the day.” This is quite the flex.

The possibility of a McIlroy versus Rose rerun is live. The Englishman, on his 21st Masters appearance, made a 70 as shadows lengthened. He dropped shots on the 17th and 18th. Dinner may have tasted somewhat sour.

Burns’s position is curious. It may also prove temporary. In four previous Masters appearances, he has missed the cut twice and placed at a high point of 29th. “This is not really a golf course where you want to think about the past or the future,” said Burns.

Tommy Fleetwood was similarly phlegmatic after dropping two shots in the closing three holes. Fleetwood had to make do with a 71, which for so long looked like being much better. “That’s done now, there is nothing I can do about it,” Fleetwood said. “On 16, I hit a poor iron shot. At 18, I hit two lovely shots in. It was such a quick putt from the back of the green. First one I leave eight feet short then you see that one dribbles down and goes four feet past from eight feet. Of course you should get down in two, but I didn’t. It’s done now, isn’t it? Do a bit of practice, go home, get up tomorrow and go again.”

Patrick Reed raced to five under par after eight holes but stumbled. The 2018 champion signed for a 69. Kurt Kitayama and Jason Day – remember him? – matched Reed’s score. Shane Lowry took a trip on an Augusta rollercoaster; the Irishman was two under after two, level after four and minus three when holing out from the 13th fairway. His 70 left him in a strong position and he duly predicted three days of chaos.

“I think this could be the toughest Masters we’ve played in a while,” Lowry said. “You look at the [good] forecast. I think over the last few years we’ve had a day every year where it’s been raining or it’s been heavy rains. It’s kind of helped us a little bit but I think before the week is out, it’s going to get very, very crusty around here.”

This will soon become an attritional Masters. Once upon a time, such a backdrop would have worried McIlroy. Now he relishes the battle.

Xander Schauffele is notable alongside Lowry on the leaderboard. The world No 10 found the bottom of a spectator’s shopping bag with a stray drive on the 8th. “It was a great break,” Schauffele said. “That bounce would’ve put me in the pine straw and who knows if I would’ve had a shot to hit up the hill. So thanks to the lady there.”

Jon Rahm struggled badly. Robert MacIntyre, who also suffered a dismal day, putted off the 13th green and took nine two holes later. Bryson DeChambeau slumped to a 76, meaning he has his work cut out to become a prominent element of this tournament. The Californian was not of a mind to discuss his home-made five iron in the aftermath of a poor start. “That’s a longer conversation,” said DeChambeau. “It’s not for here.” Likewise will apply to DeChambeau himself without a strong Friday.