McIlroy Vows to Maintain Aggressive Approach with Historic Masters Lead

Rory McIlroy is determined to avoid complacency and maintain his aggressive playing style as he attempts to defend his title at The Masters. Following a spectacular round of 65 on Friday, McIlroy holds a record lead of 12 under after 36 holes, six shots clear of his closest rivals. The Northern Irishman's impressive performance is reminiscent of his first major victory at the 2011 US Open, where he also led by six shots at the halfway stage and went on to win by eight shots. When asked what advice he would give himself based on his past experiences, McIlroy emphasized the importance of playing freely and not getting protective of his lead. He stated, 'Don't protect it. Go out and play freely, keep swinging.' McIlroy's mindset is focused on continuing to play well and keeping the pressure on his competitors. His efficient start to the tournament has been built on repeatedly recovering from trouble over the opening two rounds, with the world No 2 making birdies at three out of four par fives on Friday despite missing the fairway with his tee shots. McIlroy believes that his performance has demonstrated the value of efficiency and adaptability in achieving good scores, even when not playing perfectly. He noted, 'Hopefully he saw that you don't have to be perfect to shoot good scores.' Having struggled with the weight of expectation in the past, McIlroy appears more relaxed at this year's event, attributing his newfound ease to the feeling of 'playing with the house's money' after completing his career Grand Slam at Augusta National last year.