At four-under heading to the 15th tee on Thursday, McIlroy looked poised to make another run at his first green jacket and career grand slam.
Then the World No.2 proceeded to double bogey two of his last four holes, declining media requests after his disastrous finish which saw seven shots off the pace set by leader Justin Rose.
Safe to say, The Vibes ™ were not great for McIlroy as he tee’d off in the morning wave on Friday. After an unremarkable par on the first, McIlroy lost his tee shot long and right on the second, his ball coming to a rest at the foot of one Augusta National’s famous pine trees.
It wasn’t an exaggeration to say that McIlroy’s entire tournament pivoted on what he did next. Another blow-up hole, and he would be fighting just to the make the cut.
Instead, McIlroy chopped out, hit a delicate wedge to six feet and lipped in his putt for one of the single best birdies we’ve seen on Pink Dogwood over the years. Check it out.
Rory McIlroy made birdie from here 😱 pic.twitter.com/RSc5F9sNmB
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) April 11, 2025
A birdie for Rory McIlroy at No. 2. pic.twitter.com/BD06hDTE0H
— Golf on CBS ⛳ (@GolfonCBS) April 11, 2025
RELATED: Amateur makes splash with watershed moment by taking free ‘relief’ in Rae’s Creek
Pretty incredible stuff from McIlroy, who came into the week as the second betting favourite behind defending Masters champion Scottie Scheffler.
For as much criticism as the North Irishman deserves for ducking media (again) following his opening round, he deserves just as much credit for gritting his teeth and turning a near certain bogey into a birdie on Friday morning.
Will it be enough to keep Justin Rose and Co. within striking distance? That remains to be seen, but sometimes you have to call a spade a spade, and this was one hell of a spade.
