LAST UPDATE | 10 Apr

RORY MCILROY DELIVERED one of the most stunning finishes in major golf history, making birdies on six of Friday’s last seven holes to seize a record six-stroke lead after the second round at the Masters.

McIlroy birdied six of his last seven holes, including a remarkable chip in on the 17th, for a round of 65 that leaves him comfortably clear at 12-under.

RORY MCILORY CHIP IN!!! 🎯 pic.twitter.com/zc09nKwEEp

— Sky Sports Golf (@SkySportsGolf) April 10, 2026

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Shaen Lowry. Alamy Stock Photo Alamy Stock Photo

Shane Lowry enjoyed a terrific finish with two birdies in his last three holes, leaving him in a tie for fourth alongside Justin Rose and Tommy Fleetwood. Sam Burns and Patrick Reed are in a tie for second on six-under.

Lowry picked up shots on the 16th and 18th for a three-under par 69. It leaves him on five-under after a round that did not contain a single dropped shot.

Defying fast and firm conditions at Augusta National, McIlroy fired a seven-under-par 65 in the second round to stand on 12-under-par at the midpoint of the year’s first major.

World number two McIlroy’s closing run included holing out a spectacular 29-yard pitch at the par-four 17th hole and sinking a six-foot birdie putt at the 18th to break the old 36-hole record lead of five shots.

“Just an amazing end to the round,” McIlroy said.

“When I was standing on the 12th tee, I didn’t imagine I would be six ahead going into the weekend.”

McIlroy, trying to become only the fourth player to capture back-to-back green jackets, sank seven-foot birdie putts at the par-three 12th and par-five 13th holes to seize the lead.

He added another from 10 feet at the par-five 15th and sank a three-foot birdie putt at the par-three 16th.

Then came the pitch-in stunner and an approach to six feet at 18 followed by the clutch putt for his fourth straight birdie at Masters history.

“This golf course, you can get on runs,” McIlroy said. “And for me, it’s all about staying patient until I feel good enough that I can get on them.”

Patrick Reed, the 2018 Masters champion, missed a six-foot putt and made bogey at 18 to shoot 69 and share a distant second with fellow American Sam Burns on six-under.