Rory McIlroy and Sam Burns opened the 2026 Masters tied for the lead at 5-under 67, while Patrick Reed, Jason Day and Scottie Scheffler stayed close.
Rory McIlroy and Sam Burns gave the 2026 Masters an electric start Thursday, each carding a 5-under 67 to grab a share of the first-round lead at Augusta National.
For McIlroy, the fast start carried extra weight as the defending champion tries to become just the fourth player ever to win back-to-back green jackets.
Burns, meanwhile, turned in the best opening round of his Masters career and looked completely comfortable on one of golf’s toughest stages.
Burns built his round the way contenders usually do at Augusta ... by taking advantage of the par 5s.
He played the long holes brilliantly, made a key birdie at the 12th, added another at the 13th and kept the momentum rolling at the 15th.
Afterward, Burns said, “I think historically people who have success here play the par-5s really well,” and that formula showed up clearly on his scorecard.
McIlroy’s path looked a little different. He wasn’t especially sharp off the tee, but he still squeezed everything possible out of the round with patience and timely birdies.
His 67 marked his best opening round at the Masters in 15 years, a notable development for a player who has often had to play catch-up at Augusta.
That steadiness could make the rest of the field uneasy, especially with McIlroy already carrying the confidence of a defending champion.
Just behind the leaders, Patrick Reed and Jason Day both posted 3-under 69s, while Scottie Scheffler stayed in the mix after an opening 70.
Justin Rose also finished at 70, keeping the leaderboard packed heading into Friday. Farther back, Bryson DeChambeau stumbled to a 76, and Jon Rahm endured one of the roughest starts among the marquee names.
If Thursday was any indication, this Masters is shaping up to be crowded, tense and loaded with star power from the very first page of the leaderboard.
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