McIlroy Takes Early Lead at The Masters as DeChambeau Struggles

Rory McIlroy, the defending champion, made a strong start to his title defense at The Masters, sharing the lead with Sam Burns after the opening round. McIlroy carded a 67, including five birdies in an eight-hole stretch, to join Burns at five under par. The pair holds a two-shot advantage over Jason Day, Patrick Reed, and Kurt Kitayama, who are tied for third. Justin Rose, Shane Lowry, and world No 1 Scottie Scheffler are also in contention, within three shots of the lead. Meanwhile, Bryson DeChambeau had a disappointing start, shooting a four-over 76, and former champion Jon Rahm struggled to a 78. McIlroy, seeking to become the first back-to-back winner at The Masters since Tiger Woods, found momentum after a slow start, with successive birdies helping him reach the turn in 34. He then started a fresh birdie burst, taking advantage of the par-five 13th and 15th holes to pull level with Burns. McIlroy felt he got the most out of his round, staying patient when needed and relying on his experience to secure a strong opening round.