2026 Masters: Rory McIlroy starts title defense strong with 67

AUGUSTA, Ga. – Love story.

It’s the title of the nine-episode series on John F. Kennedy Jr. and Carolyn Bissette’s marriage that Rory McIlroy and wife Erica have been watching. But it also is a fairly accurate description of McIlroy’s relationship with Augusta National Golf Club.

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It’s gone from unrequited love to 2025 Masters champ and McIlroy picked up where he left off on Thursday with six birdies and one bogey. McIlroy was loving the way his title defense began, declaring it couldn’t have started much better than his opening-round 5-under 67. Asked to remember the last time he’d been called in to the press center on Thursday, he said, “I don’t know,” and took a long pause. “Was this building built in 2011?”

A detailed view of the golf bag used by Amateur Jackson Herrington of the United States during the first round of the 2026 Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club on April 09, 2026 in Augusta, Georgia.

A detailed view of the shoes worn by Keegan Bradley of the United States on the second green during the first round of the 2026 Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club on April 09, 2026 in Augusta, Georgia.

Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland reacts on the second green during the first round of the 2026 Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club on April 09, 2026 in Augusta, Georgia.

Amateur Mason Howell of the United States reacts on the first green during the first round of the 2026 Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club on April 09, 2026 in Augusta, Georgia.

Vijay Singh takes a shot on the seventh fairway during the first round of the Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club.

Charl Schwartzel reacts after a putt on the seventh green during the first round of the Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club.

Collin Morikawa tees off from the first hole during the first round of the Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club.

Mason Howell tees off on the first hole during the first round of the Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club.

Bryson DeChambeau prepares to putt on the second green during the first round of the Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club.

Tommy Fleetwood takes a shot on the second hole during the first round of the Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club.

Xander Schauffele lines up a putt on the second green during the first round of the Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club.

Bryson DeChambeau walks down the fairway from the fifth tee during the first round of the Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club.

Rory McIlroy reacts after a putt on the second green during the first round of the Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club.

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Masters 2026: Best photos from Thursday's first round

A detailed view of the golf bag used by Amateur Jackson Herrington of the United States during the first round of the 2026 Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club on April 09, 2026 in Augusta, Georgia.

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Masters 2026: Best photos from Thursday's first round

A detailed view of the golf bag used by Amateur Jackson Herrington of the United States during the first round of the 2026 Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club on April 09, 2026 in Augusta, Georgia.

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Masters 2026: Best photos from Thursday's first round

A detailed view of the shoes worn by Keegan Bradley of the United States on the second green during the first round of the 2026 Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club on April 09, 2026 in Augusta, Georgia.

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Masters 2026: Best photos from Thursday's first round

Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland reacts on the second green during the first round of the 2026 Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club on April 09, 2026 in Augusta, Georgia.

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Masters 2026: Best photos from Thursday's first round

Amateur Mason Howell of the United States reacts on the first green during the first round of the 2026 Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club on April 09, 2026 in Augusta, Georgia.

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Masters 2026: Best photos from Thursday's first round

Vijay Singh takes a shot on the seventh fairway during the first round of the Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club.

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Masters 2026: Best photos from Thursday's first round

Charl Schwartzel reacts after a putt on the seventh green during the first round of the Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club.

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Masters 2026: Best photos from Thursday's first round

Collin Morikawa tees off from the first hole during the first round of the Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club.

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Masters 2026: Best photos from Thursday's first round

Mason Howell tees off on the first hole during the first round of the Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club.

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Masters 2026: Best photos from Thursday's first round

Bryson DeChambeau prepares to putt on the second green during the first round of the Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club.

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Masters 2026: Best photos from Thursday's first round

Tommy Fleetwood takes a shot on the second hole during the first round of the Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club.

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Masters 2026: Best photos from Thursday's first round

Xander Schauffele lines up a putt on the second green during the first round of the Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club.

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Masters 2026: Best photos from Thursday's first round

Bryson DeChambeau walks down the fairway from the fifth tee during the first round of the Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club.

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Masters 2026: Best photos from Thursday's first round

Rory McIlroy reacts after a putt on the second green during the first round of the Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club.

Indeed, McIlroy carded his best first-round score at the Masters since his 65 in 2011 when an inexperienced 21-year-old would go on to blow up in the final round and shoot 80. Now 36, McIlroy is making his 18th tournament appearance and has seen just about everything.

“I feel like the way I played, 5-under sort of exceeded where I thought I would be or what I wanted to do,” he said. “I think a fair score for me today would have been like 2-under maybe with some of the places I hit it. But again, I used my head and I didn't — I got up-and-down when I needed to. I didn't compound mistakes. Again, that's just a learning curve that you have to go through around here, and I did it well today.”

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McIlroy, who was tied with Sam Burns when he signed his scorecard, is positioned to be the sixth Masters champion to hold at least a share of the first round lead the following year. Jordan Spieth was the last to do so in 2016 and finished T-2. Jack Nicklaus is the only one of the six to go on to repeat in 1966. Nicklaus, for one, wouldn’t put it past McIlroy to follow suit.

“I think Rory is talented enough to be able to play it,” Nicklaus said. “Rory's got the monkey off his back, and I think he has a very, very good chance to repeat.”

McIlroy said he got off to a scrappy start, including his lone bogey of the day at the third hole. He hit just 36 percent of the fairways, well below his career average but managed to find 13 of 18 greens and scramble well en route to play the last 11 holes in 5 under. Again, McIlroy showed patience when he didn’t strike the ball well during the first seven holes.

“Sometimes here that would lead me to get tentative and a little guidy, and I kept swinging, just trusting that I'm going to find it eventually,” he said.

Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland reacts on the 18th green during the first round of the 2026 Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club on April 09, 2026 in Augusta, Georgia.

On Thursday, McIlroy got as much as possible out of his round – outside of his birdie putt at 17, he said – and so all he said he would focus on for the second round is trying to find a few more fairways. He’ll try to play with the confidence that comes with no longer having the burden of trying to win the Masters, which has freed him up, and he said it’s easier to commit to shots.

“I think winning a Masters makes it easier to win your second one, I do,” he said.“But I think it's easier for me to make those swings and not worry about where it goes when I know that I can go to the Champions Locker Room and put my Green Jacket on and have a Coke Zero at the end of the day.”

This article originally appeared on Golfweek: Masters 2026: Rory McIlroy starts strong in title defense at Augusta