McIlroy Tied for Lead at Augusta as DeChambeau Struggles

Rory McIlroy, the defending champion, has taken a share of the lead on the opening day of The Masters, alongside Justin Rose, Shane Lowry, and world number one Scottie Scheffler all in contention at Augusta National. McIlroy carded an impressive five birdies in an eight-hole stretch to post an opening-round 67. He is joined on five under by Sam Burns, who set the initial clubhouse target, with the pair holding a two-shot buffer over Jason Day, Patrick Reed, and Kurt Kitayama in tied-third. Rose, who finished runner-up to McIlroy last April, was within one of the lead until finishing a two-under 70 with successive bogeys, while Shane Lowry, Xander Schauffele, and Scheffler are also within three of the lead. Meanwhile, Bryson DeChambeau had a nightmare start, struggling to a four-over 76, and former champion Jon Rahm stuttered to an opening-round 78. McIlroy, aiming to join Jack Nicklaus, Sir Nick Faldo, and Woods as the only players to retain the Green Jacket, found momentum after a slow start, with successive birdies helping him reach the turn in 34. The five-time major champion saw another birdie at the next take him to four under with four holes to play, before taking advantage of the par-five 15th to pull level with Burns. McIlroy missed a birdie opportunity for the solo lead at the 17th but equalled the second-lowest opening round by a defending champion, with Burns also on five under after posting his career-best round at The Masters.