McIlroy will take a record-breaking six-shot lead into the weekend after following up his first-round 67 with a spectacular seven-under 65 at Augusta National on Friday (Saturday AEST).
Bidding to join Jack Nicklaus, Tiger Woods and Nick Faldo as only the fourth man to win back-to-back Masters, McIlroy burst clear of the pack with six birdies in his last seven holes.
He crowned his charge with a chip-in on No.17 for his eighth birdie of the day, then nabbed a ninth at 18 to surge from six to 12 under in seemingly the blink of an eye.
By the time he was done, the six-time major winner wound up with the biggest 36-hole lead in Masters history.Â
In an equally alarming statistic for the chasing pack, the eventual champion has been within at least four shots of the lead at the past 14 editions of the showpiece event.
On that trend, even Americans Sam Burns and 2018 champion Patrick Reed, who share second place at six under, are seemingly out of the race at the halfway mark.
Burns (67-71) and Reed (69-69) are one stroke ahead of three-time runner-up and sentimental favourite Justin Rose (70-69), fellow Englishman Tommy Fleetwood (71-68) and Ireland's Shane Lowry (70-69).
In a tie for seventh at four under and eight back of McIlroy, Jason Day (69-71) is the only Australian with the remotest of chances of reeling in the Northern Irish grand slam winner.
Few could have imagined McIlroy being so in control when he bogeyed the 10th hole and only led Day by one shot.
14°C