McIlroy Vows to Maintain Aggressive Approach with Historic Lead at Masters

Rory McIlroy has pledged to maintain his aggressive playing style as he attempts to defend his title at the Masters, following a record-breaking halfway lead. The Northern Irish golfer carded a spectacular 65 on Friday to move to 12 under after 36 holes, six shots ahead of Americans Sam Burns and Patrick Reed. This comes a year after McIlroy completed his career Grand Slam at Augusta National, ending an 11-year wait for his fifth major title. McIlroy, who also led by six shots at the halfway stage of his first major win at the 2011 US Open, has drawn on past experiences to inform his approach. When asked what advice he would give himself based on his 2011 US Open win, McIlroy said, 'Don't protect it, go out and play freely, keep swinging.' He emphasized the importance of not getting protective and instead focusing on making birdies and staying committed. McIlroy's impressive start has been built on efficient performances, including digging himself out of trouble on multiple occasions over the opening two rounds. He made birdies at three out of four par-fives on Friday, despite missing the fairway with his tee shots. McIlroy has attributed his success to his short game and wedge play, saying, 'Hopefully, he saw that you don't have to be perfect to shoot good scores.' The 36-year-old has presented a more relaxed demeanor at this year's event, having overcome the weight of expectation that previously accompanied him at Augusta. McIlroy revealed that feeling like he is 'playing with the house's money' has helped him navigate challenging moments, saying, 'When I miss fairways, it's fine. When I miss greens, it's fine.'