AUGUSTA, GA. When Rory McIlroy finally broke his protracted major-less streak that stretched back to the 2014 PGA Championship, the pent-up frustrations were front and center when his final putt was holed at last year’s Masters.

McIlroy bent to his knees and upon leaving the 18th green he turned his head upwards and looking at the heavens shouted out loud with both relief and joy.

During that long dark time when various majors slipped away, McIlroy faced an endless barrage of questions from media. Why could he not break through? Was his best golf really behind him? Would he ever get over the hump?

When the famed green jacket was placed on his shoulders at the award ceremony — how fitting his chief rival Scottie Scheffler did the honor.

McIlroy then joined, as just the sixth person to do so, the most exclusive club in golf — career grand slam winners.

Sports overall are a competitive endeavor. One cannot say with any certainty how long a time frame one will be relevant at the highest of levels. Yes, there are examples of golfers who have had long and storied careers. Jack Nicklaus won his first major in 1962 and his final one came 24 years later in an epic Masters in 1986. Gary Player captured his first major in 1959 at The Open Championship and his last came at the 1978 Masters.

But others can have different situations. When Arnold Palmer won his fourth and final Masters in 1964, he was 34. More majors seemed likely. None ever came. When Seve Ballesteros won his third Open and fifth overall major in 1988 at age 32, many assumed more majors would happen for the Spaniard. Like Palmer – none ever came.

McIlroy is now 36 and his first-round play at the 90th Masters showed how the long-time monkey that rode his back is now in the rear-view mirror. The Northern Irishman shot a five-under-par 67 and that total held up for the co-lead with American Sam Burns.

Rory’s play was not rock solid. He only hit 5 of 14 fairways but his scoring skills were particularly sharp from the 8th hole to the 18th when he scored five birdies with no hiccups.

Should McIlroy defend his title he would join another select club — Masters winners in consecutive years. Only Jack Nicklaus, Nick Faldo and Tiger Woods have ever accomplished that rare feat.

McIlroy’s score of 67 in the first round was the best among those who sought to defend their title. And the score was also his lowest in the Masters since 2011 ( Sub-70 first round scores: 65/2011/finished T15, 69/2018/ finished T5).

But McIlroy’s golf game can be magical to watch when operating on all cylinders. His tee game has always been a strength. For the bulk of his professional career, no one can match the consistent firepower he brings to the table.

The main weakness? A putter that has shown at times to be a concerning issue. Who can forget his give away at the 2024 US Open at Pinehurst?

Clearly, the outcome of this year’s Masters will not be determined by just one round. 54 holes remain to be played. No one knows that better than McIlroy.

But lifting the monkey that was on his back for over a decade is likely to free Rory and potentially create a powerful momentum in which additional majors are certainly within his reach.

Confidence is everything in golf. Being able to play without the demons racing through one’s brain can be liberating. McIlroy is now playing with house money. His fellow competitors are fully aware of this. Taking on McIlroy now will require competitive pushback that only the most gifted can provide — Scheffler is certainly one of them.

Having a battle royale between the world number 1 and 2 would be epic given the infrequency in which they actually happen.

The Rory story is an evolving one. However, the past is now in his rear-view mirror. Those competing against him for major titles had best bring their “A” game to take him on now.

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Notes

• American Sam Burns’ opening-round 67 marks his low 18-hole score in 13 rounds at Augusta National and his lowest opening-round in a major championship (23rd major championship appearance). He has finished in the top-10 twice T7/2025 US Open, T9/2024 US Open). His best finish in seven PGA Tour starts this season was T6/AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am.

• American Kurt Kitayama (T3/-3) joins Sam Burns as the only two players at 2-under or better yet to win a major championship; lone finish inside the top 10 in 17 prior major championship starts: T4/2023 PGA Championship

• In his 50th round at the Masters Tournament, Australian Jason Day (T3/-3) notched his 11th round in the 60s at Augusta National.

• American Patrick Reed (T3/-3) becomes the sixth player to start birdie-eagle in the first round at the Masters Tournament; most recent: Sam Burns and Sam Bennett, both in 2023.

• Four major champions sit T6 at 2-under: Shane Lowry (IRE), Xander Schauffele (USA), Justin Rose (ENG) and Scottie Scheffler (USA), who extends his streak of six opening-round scores of 70 or higher in his last six starts on the PGA Tour.

• Of the 108 invitees, 91 players started the 2026 Masters Tournament, including 22 first-time competitors

• American Jacob Bridgeman (T10/-1) is the best of the first-time competitors following the first round, one stroke ahead of fellow first-time competitors Kristoffer Reitan (NOR), Ryan Gerard (USA), Sam Stevens (USA), Michael Brennan (USA), Ben Griffin (USA) and Chris Gotterup (USA), the only player with multiple victories on the PGA Tour this season (Sony Open in Hawaii, WM Phoenix Open).

• In 18 of the last 20 Masters Tournaments, the eventual champion sat among the top 10 on the leaderboard following the completion of the first round; exceptions: Tiger Woods (T11/2019), Rory McIlroy (T27/2025).

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Related: Augusta National’s formidable “Magnolia” 

Tucked away in a corner of the property, hole 5 is unrelenting.

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