McIlroy Takes Early 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, joined by Sam Burns on five under par. McIlroy, who is seeking to become the first back-to-back winner at The Masters since Tiger Woods, made a strong start with five birdies in an eight-hole stretch to post an opening-round 67. Justin Rose, Shane Lowry, and world No 1 Scottie Scheffler are also in contention, but Bryson DeChambeau had a nightmare start with a four-over 76. McIlroy found momentum after a slow start, with successive birdies helping him reach the turn in 34, and he went on to equal the second-lowest opening round by a defending champion. 'I felt like I got a lot out of my round,' McIlroy said, adding that he stayed patient and leaned heavily on his experience to achieve the result.