Rory McIlroy carded a 5-under-par 67 in the first round of the Masters Tournament to share the lead with Sam Burns. The defending champion displayed a relaxed approach despite hitting only five of 14 fairways, laughing off a wayward tee shot on the first hole with amateur Mason Howell. McIlroy attributed his strong play to the freedom gained from last year's victory.
McIlroy arrived at the first tee feeling the familiar nerves of past appearances at Augusta National. 'I was nervous, I was anxious just like I always am on that first tee,' he said after the round. Both he and 18-year-old U.S. Amateur champion Mason Howell hooked their drives left, but they walked off together laughing, a departure from McIlroy's pressure-filled starts in previous years chasing the career Grand Slam. Howell shot 5-over 77 and recalled, 'Being able to walk off that tee laughing with Rory, that was pretty funny.'
