Juddering McIlroy simply can't stop riding Masters rollercoaster

Rory McIlroy says he will have to play better on Sunday if he is to defend his Masters title after letting slip a six-shot lead at Augusta National.

Rory McIlroy holds a commanding six-shot lead heading into the third round of the 2026 Masters in Augusta, Georgia, following an exceptional second-round 65, highlighted by six birdies in his final seven holes.

At the 2026 Masters Tournament in Augusta, Georgia, the championship prize purse has reached a record $22.5 million, the highest among the four golf majors. The winner is set to earn $4.5 million—an increase from the $4.2 million awarded last year.

After spending 16 years as the hunter, Rory McIlroy is relishing his position as the hunted. The defending Masters champion has reached the halfway point of the 2026 staging in a style that asserts his desperation to hang on to the Green Jacket.

Rory McIlroy surged into the lead at the 2026 Masters after an impressive second round, where he birdied six of the final seven holes to reach 12-under-par. He holds a commanding six-shot lead heading into the weekend as he aims to become the first golfer since Tiger Woods in 2002 to win back-to-back Masters titles.