McIlroy Makes Strong Start in Bid to Defend Masters Title

Rory McIlroy has begun his defense of The Masters title with a strong opening round, carding a five-under 67 to take an early share of the lead. Despite acknowledging that there is still a long way to go in the tournament, McIlroy expressed satisfaction with his start, which included six birdies and just one bogey. His impressive round has set him up nicely for the rest of the competition, as he seeks to become only the fourth player to win back-to-back Masters titles. McIlroy's performance was marked by his ability to recover from tricky positions on the course, with his patience and skill ultimately rewarded as he moved to the top of the leaderboard alongside Sam Burns. The Northern Irish golfer's chances of defending his title have been boosted by his strong start, and he will be looking to build on this momentum as the tournament progresses.