Rory McIlroy shot 65 on Friday. He leads by six, but he is not letting himself enjoy it yet. In his mind, anything can still happen.

This is the largest 36-hole lead in Masters history. McIlroy got there by making four birdies in a row at the end on Friday at Augusta National Golf Club. But when reporters spoke to him after, he was not focused on the record. The 36-year-old was thinking about what could still go wrong.

"Look, there's still a long way to go," McIlroy said, per Golf.com. "A lot of things can happen on this golf course. I just have to stay in my own little world today and tomorrow."

That’s not just modesty, as McIlroy knows from experience how quickly Augusta can change a lead.

McIlroy believes his game is in the right place, but acknowledges it's a matter of self-management and smart decision-making. He is hopeful for a good result if he can maintain that focus.

He came in more prepared this year, made a few trips from Florida to play the course, arrived earlier than usual, and wanted Augusta to feel familiar before the tournament started.

"I've been on this golf course so much over the last three weeks," McIlroy said. "I think just spending so much time up here has been a big part of it."

Rory McIlroy and his New Mindset are helping him play freely

Rory McIlroy has been open about what changed. For years, Augusta made him play more carefully, unsure, and always second-guessing himself.

"Over the years, my mindset hasn't been 'Keep swinging,'" he said. "It's been guided, tentative. The experience I've accrued over the years makes it a bit easier out there to keep swinging."

Winning here last year removed something. The weight of chasing a career Grand Slam, the near-misses, the final-round collapses, all of it lifted when he slipped on the green jacket in 2025.

Now he's playing Augusta like someone who belongs, not someone trying to prove it.

McIlroy has always felt Augusta allows players to go on scoring runs. While he has the ability, he said the key was getting out of his own way and staying aggressive.

That’s the version of McIlroy the field is chasing now, with 36 holes left and a six-shot gap.

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Written by

Sneha Abraham

Edited by

Pulkit Prabhav