Just twice in 16 prior starts has McIlroy began the Masters with a round in the 60s, both times putting him in a favorable position: In 2011, he opened with a 65 and had a four-shot lead on Sunday before coming unraveled with a closing 80; and in 2018, he used a hot start to play his way into the final group on Sunday (shot 74).

That was all it took for Rory McIlroy to turn a superb opening round into another pedestrian start at the Masters. McIlroy was 4-under par, three shots behind leader Justin Rose and looking to take it deeper when he made double bogey from the middle of the fairway on the par-5 15th hole on Thursday,