It wasn’t the roaring round clearly signaling a possible Grand Slam march, but Rory McIlroy’s first round was solid enough.
Seeking to complete the career Grand Slam with a win at the Masters Tournament, the world’s No. 1-ranked player salvaged Thursday’s round by birdieing two par-5s on the back nine to card 1-under 71.
“It was good to get into red numbers after day one, and I feel with the way I’m driving the ball, if I can keep doing that and just be a little more patient with my iron play and give myself more opportunities, I’ll hope to be right there at the end of the week,” he said.
The late push was a welcome change from McIlroy’s recent missed chances on Augusta par-5s. Though he began this year’s tournament 21-under-par on par-5s in his career at Augusta, he played them at even-par in 2014 and finished eight shots behind champion Bubba Watson, who played them at 8-under.
Thursday didn’t start out great, either, as he went par-par on the first two par-5s. But McIlroy regrouped to stay within striking distance.
Only five golfers have won all four majors in the Masters era, and Gene Sarazen remains the only one to complete the task at Augusta. That was 80 years ago, when he holed a double eagle in the fourth round in the “shot heard ’round the world” and later beat Craig Wood in a playoff.
McIlroy, 25, would be the second-youngest career slam winner. Tiger Woods was 24 when he finished the feat.
On Thursday, an errant shot on the par-5 No. 2 landed in a small creek, but McIlroy smacked his next swing through trouble for a cleaner look. He then stuck his fourth shot 4 feet from the pin to save par.
After a bogey on No. 11 left him 1-over, he reached the green on his second shot on No. 13 and two-putted for birdie. On No. 15, he sank a 22-foot putt for a birdie.
It made for a nice rally, but there are three rounds to go – and some climbing to do.
“I haven’t put too much pressure on myself,” McIlroy said. “Look, I obviously know what I can achieve this week, but I’m not letting myself think about it too much. Just trying to play it one round at a time.”
