Defending champion Rory McIlroy says he plans to keep his “foot on the gas” after building a record six-shot halfway lead with a devastating second-round 65 at the Masters.

Sharing the overnight lead with Sam Burns, Northern Ireland’s McIlroy made a hat-trick of birdies from the second hole to open up a three-shot advantage before bogeys at the fifth and 10th gave the chasing pack renewed hope.

But the world number two surged clear of the field down Augusta National’s iconic closing stretch. Birdies on six of his last seven holes, including a sensational chip-in on the 17th, took him to 12 under par.

The seven under par round opened a huge lead over Americans Burns and Patrick Reed, with Ryder Cup team-mates Justin Rose, Tommy Fleetwood and Shane Lowry a shot further back.

“I’ve built up a nice cushion at this point. I guess my mindset is just trying to keep playing well and keeping my foot on the gas,” said the 36-year-old, who will head out alongside Burns in the final pairing at 19:50 BST on Saturday.

“There are so many different ways to skin a cat. I’ve shot 12 under par for the first two rounds here. I’ve played well, I’ve hit good shots, but it hasn’t all been amazing.

“I’ve relied on my short game when I’ve needed it, and I’ve certainly hit enough good wedges into those par fives to build the score that I have.”

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No plans to merely ‘protect lead’

McIlroy, who is hoping to become just the fourth player after Jack Nicklaus, Nick Faldo and Tiger Woods to win back-to-back Masters titles has held a six-shot lead at this point in a major before.

He went on to win the 2011 US Open by eight shots – claiming the first of his five majors – and also spreadeagled the field with an eight-shot victory at the 2012 US PGA Championship.

And he plans to maintain an aggressive approach around Augusta National over the weekend as he bids to match Faldo, Phil Mickelson and Lee Trevino’s haul of six majors.

“Don’t protect it. Go out and play freely, keep swinging,” he said when asked what advice his 2011 self would have for him before Saturday.

McIlroy led that year’s Masters by four shots going into the final round, but carded an eight-over-par 80 to tumble down the leaderboard.

“A big part of the lesson from the 2011 Masters to the 2011 US Open was don’t get protective,” he added. “Go out there and keep playing, keep trying to make birdies, stay as trusting and as committed as possible.”

McIlroy also said he plans to watch tennis and spend time with his daughter Poppy to take his mind off the third round.

“That distraction is usually a good thing for me, especially with a late tee time and the lead,” he explained.

“There are two really good semi-finals at Monte Carlo in the tennis. So I’ll watch those.

“We’ve been watching the tennis early in the mornings. And then hopefully spend some time with Poppy. I think we’re about halfway through Zootopia 2.”

With no rain forecast over the weekend, Augusta’s famously undulating greens are expected to become increasingly fiery as the tournament nears its conclusion.

With that in mind, McIlroy – who missed six fairways and five greens on Friday – is under no illusion about the scale of the task as he alluded to his previous Masters struggles.

“There’s still a lot of work to do,” he stressed to BBC NI.

“I’ve put myself in the best position possible going into the weekend but I know more than probably anyone else what this golf course can do to you.

“I need to keep my wits about me and play the weekend like I played the past two days.”

When Rory McIlroy chatted to the great Jack Nicklaus for advice about defending the best way to defend his Masters title, he was given a succinct piece of advice.

“He told me ‘no double bogeys’,” laughed McIlroy.

An obvious tip maybe, but it is easier said than done at Augusta National. Just ask the 36-year-old from Northern Ireland, who has opened up a record six-shot lead at the halfway stage thanks to a stunning finish to Friday’s second round.

On his way to golfing utopia last year, McIlroy carded four double bogeys over the week – a tally which nobody had ever recorded and still managed to don the Green Jacket.

So far, with McIlroy holding a commanding advantage in his pursuit of a rare back-to-back Masters win, there haven’t been any.

Instead of costly doubles threatening to derail his progress, there was a flurry of birdies late in a sensational second round which helped McIlroy accelerate away from the chasing pack.

He converted six in the final seven holes of his second round – including a glorious chip in from 30 yards on the 17th – to finish 12 under following a spell which ranks among the finest of his career.

The run enabled the five-time major champion to set a record 36-hole lead going into the weekend, with American pair Sam Burns and Patrick Reed closest behind on six under.

“I’ve always loved the tournament and loved this golf course, even when I felt it didn’t love me back,” said McIlroy, who is bidding to follow Jack Nicklaus, Nick Faldo and Tiger Woods as only the fourth player to defend.

“Now when I miss fairways it’s fine, when I miss greens it’s fine. I feel like I’m playing with the house’s money.”

McIlroy has rarely done anything conventionally in a career packed with as many bitter lows as there have been exhilarating highs.

This week,his progress has been uncharacteristically serene as he swung what had been a wide open tournament heavily into his favour.

With 36 holes still to play at a fickle Augusta which has the capacity to bite back, it is far from game over. A host of big names behind McIlroy are ready to pounce on any slips which he may make over the weekend.

But, judging by the evidence of the first two days, it does not feel like there will be any blips.

The relaxation which McIlroy has developed since finally becoming the sixth man to complete the career Grand Slam has allowed him to play with freedom around Augusta National.

“I haven’t panicked when I’ve hit it off line and into trees, I’ve layed up and relied on wedges and those scoring clubs,” he told Sky Sports.

“This course enables you to get on runs, although I certainly didn’t imagine birdieing six of the last seven.

“I’ve always felt when you’re feeling it around here you can get momentum, the crowd gets on your side and you keep it rolling.”

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Patience the key for majestic McIlroy – but others lie in wait

It seems bizarre to say now given his dominant position, but there was a spell on Friday where you felt McIlroy was still not playing close to his best.

When McIlroy bogeyed the 10th, he dropped back alongside 2018 champion Reed on six under and his general untidiness put his place at the top of the leaderboard under pressure.

Some drives were being sprayed, some approaches were not precise.

At the end of his round, the statistics showed McIlroy ranked 90th in the 91-man field for accuracy off the tee.

Ultimately, it didn’t matter. His exceptional short game held his round together and when things did click into place on the tees and fairways, he motored through the back half in fabulous fashion.

After winning last year, there is no longer a melodrama every time he makes a bad shot. McIlroy has learned how to be patient around Augusta.

That seems to spell bad news for the rest of a leaderboard stacked with Green Jacket wearers, major title holders and Ryder Cup stars.

Staying even-tempered at the most famously punishing golf course in the world is a trait which two of the big names hoping to unseat McIlroy also recognise is necessary to succeed there.

Three-time runner-up Justin Rose, who is tied fourth, is targeting his own redemptive win after losing to McIlroy in last year’s sudden-death play-off and credits his own patience for his back-nine climb up the leaderboard.

“Early on things were tough out there. But I settled down and built the round back up,” said Rose, who is seven behind McIlroy after a three-under 69 on Friday.

“It’s a continuation of being on the leaderboard from last year and keeping the dream alive. I need to keep it as free as I can.”

Ireland’s Shane Lowry had a run of 14 successive pars before two birdies in the final three holes moved him alongside English pair – and victorious Ryder Cup team-mates – Rose and Tommy Fleetwood on five under par.

“I was hitting good shots and just wasn’t converting but I was patient out there,” said Lowry, whose sole major win came at the 2023 Open.

But there is another contender, also part of that European band of brothers bonded by Bethpage, who hopes a lack of patience will not stop him landing the Green Jacket.

Tyrrell Hatton knocked in seven birdies on the way to a six-under par 66, seemingly carding the round of the day only to be bettered by McIlroy.

“I definitely don’t stay calmer or more patient this week. If anything, I am probably more on edge,” said the 34-year-old Englishman.

“I will just take each shot as it comes and see what we end up with.”

Is Hatton starting to fall in love with Augusta?

Discussion had started to build once again about why the big-name LIV golfers were continuing to struggle at the majors as Jon Rahm and Bryson DeChambeau toiled at the Masters.

The conversation was cut short when Hatton, who continues to play on the breakaway Saudi-backed tour, started making eyes at Augusta National.

Up to this point he had formed an uneasy relationship with the Masters, regularly squabbling with the unrelenting undulations of the famed course.

Hatton had unsuccessfully tried to befriend the old place on nine previous visits and, after starting with a two-over par 74 on Thursday, finally managed to ingratiate himself on Friday.

After seven birdies in 16 holes, Hatton had the course record of 63 – set in 1986 by Nick Price and matched in 1996 by Greg Norman – in his sights, but ultimately had to make do with a 66 which featured seven birdies.

Hatton was only the third player in the past 30 years to hit all 18 greens in regulation, demonstrating how he is continuing to improve with each year

But, after a bogey on the last stopped him moving alongside then-clubhouse leader Rose, he still was not completely happy.

“I’ve clearly not learned enough seeing as I three-putted the last,” he told Sky Sports.

Mason Howell may have missed the cut at The Masters, but playing alongside Rory McIlroy for two rounds at Augusta National clearly provided an experience he will not forget.

Howell certainly did not disgrace himself on his Masters debut this week. The 18-year-old finished nine over par for the week, five shots away from making the cut.

Of course, he ended up having the best seat in the house for one of the most impressive performances Augusta National has ever seen.

Mason Howell reacts to playing alongside Rory McIlroy at The Masters

Rory McIlroy now boasts the largest 36-hole lead in Masters history after moving to 12 under par on Friday. The Northern Irishman made six birdies in seven holes to conclude his round.

There was a special moment on the 18th green, with McIlroy spending a little longer to have a word with Howell. It was quite clear that he was providing words of encouragement.

And speaking after the round, Howell explained what McIlroy said to him, as well as how the defending champion treated him during the tournament.

“Yeah, we chatted a decent amount, and he’s such a nice guy. Yeah, I mean, that was such a special moment for me to play with my idol. I mean, yeah, other than making the cut for me, that was everything I dreamed it would be,” he said.

“Rory was awesome. He said, ‘I hope to see you down the line’. We’ll play some practice rounds coming up. So couldn’t have been more thankful to be paired with Rory this week and how much I learned from his game.”

What impressed Howell most about Rory McIlroy

McIlroy could have hardly been more impressive over the first two rounds at The Masters.

There was a question over how he would fare with the pressure of winning the Career Grand Slam now off. The job is not done, but he has put himself in a phenomenal position.

And Howell suggested what impressed him most about McIlroy’s game after playing alongside him.

“He bandages his game really well. He has like a six-shot lead, I think. So that’s crazy. He just knows where to miss it around here,” he said.

“I mean, now he has all the weight off his shoulders. He’s playing so carefree, and I’ll be shocked if he doesn’t get it done this weekend.”

As things stand, it is extremely difficult to imagine anyone stopping McIlroy retaining his title. He is six shots clear of an outstanding chasing pack.

There are likely to be some bumps in the road before he gets across the line for a second time in as many years. But McIlroy is clearly relishing the spotlight this time around.

He is proving why many would pick McIlroy out as the most talented player of his generation.

In every draft, teams hope to land stars. The truth is that even first-round picks can simply be nice players. The Arizona Cardinals have the third overall pick in the draft, and they have the opportunity to hopefully select an absolute difference-maker.

NFL.com analyst Bucky Brooks believes there are 26 true difference-makers in the draft, with seven who project as All-Pros.

The Cardinals have been connected to a few.

Three players the Cardinals could select at No. 3 or in a trade down project as All-Pros.

1. Notre Dame RB Jeremiyah Love
2. Ohio State EDGE/LB Arvell Reese
3. Utah OL Spencer Fano

Another three are potential Pro Bowlers, says Brooks:

1. Texas Tech EDGE David Bailey
2. Miami EDGE Rueben Bain
3. Miami OL Francis Mauigoa

It would seem that the Cardinals will be in good shape whether they end up with Bailey or Reese, the two most likely players they take third overall.

Get more Cardinals and NFL coverage from Cards Wire’s Jess Root and others by listening to the latest on the Rise Up, See Red podcast. Subscribe on Spotify, YouTube or Apple podcasts.

This article originally appeared on Cards Wire: 2026 NFL draft: 6 potential difference-makers connected to Cardinals

Mets starting pitcher Clay Holmes unexpectedly exited Friday’s game against the Athletics in the top of the sixth inning with what the team says is a left hamstring injury.

After letting up a one-out single to Jacob Wilson, Holmes was met on the mound by trainers, who decided to remove him from the game. 

It looked like Holmes was stretching and reaching toward his leg after Wilson reached first base.

Holmes had tossed 81 pitches over 5.1 innings up to that point, allowing one run on five hits with three strikeouts and three walks.

This is a developing story and will be updated…

Mets starting pitcher Clay Holmes unexpectedly exited Friday’s game against the Athletics in the top of the sixth inning with a hamstring injury.

After letting up a one-out single to Jacob Wilson, Holmes was met on the mound by trainers, who decided to remove him from the game. 

Holmes had tossed 81 pitches over 5.1 innings up to that point, allowing one run on five hits with three strikeouts and three walks.

This is a developing story and will be updated…

The vacant light heavyweight title is on the line in the UFC 327 main event on Saturday. Former titleholder Jiri Prochazka faces No. 3 ranked Carlos Ulberg in the featured fight at Kaseya Center in Miami, Florida.

During Friday’s UFC 327 Ceremonial Weigh-In, the athletes faced off with their opponents ahead of Saturday’s showdowns.

UFC 327 Ceremonial Weigh-In Face-Offs