AUGUSTA, Ga. — Rory McIlroy kept stealing glances at the giant analog leaderboards as he moved around Augusta National, checking his position between shots. Those looks told the same story on Friday: he is firmly in control. A year after recovering from Masters heartbreak, McIlroy carded a 65 to sit six shots clear after 36 holes — the largest two-round lead in the tournament's 90 editions. He is chasing a second green jacket and a rare consecutive win at Augusta, something not done since Tiger Woods in 2001.
"I've always felt like this golf course can let you get on runs if you allow it," McIlroy said. "I've always had the ability to go on these runs, but I think it was getting to the point where I would allow myself to play the course the way that I knew that I could. So it was getting past myself. It was staying aggressive."
His week has been deliberate rather than casual. McIlroy arrived early, spending extra hours practicing, chipping, putting and playing practice rounds to find awkward lies and learn how to handle them. He credits that work with the sharp, confident play he showed through two rounds.
The leaderboard conversation has shifted from last year's drama to the pr
