Rory McIlroy and Sam Burns share the first-round lead at five under par following Thursday's play at Augusta National. Patrick Reed sits at three under, while Xander Schauffele and Scottie Scheffler are at two under. Bryson DeChambeau and Jon Rahm faltered with four over and six over scores, respectively.
Day one of the 2026 Masters concluded with a strong leaderboard featuring major winners near the top. McIlroy carded a stress-free 67 to grab a share of the lead alongside Burns. Reed, Schauffele, and Scheffler remain in contention early in the tournament. Other notables like Tommy Fleetwood, Jordan Spieth, and Brooks Koepka also posted solid rounds, keeping big names in the mix after 18 holes. Rory McIlroy's fast start drew attention, as he took the lead without apparent pressure at a venue where he has long sought victory. Course conditions were firmer and faster than usual, setting up a challenging but ideal test for precise players. Forecasters had predicted favorable weather, which delivered a pristine setup for the opening round. Jon Rahm's struggles stood out among pre-tournament favorites. He missed three short putts early, reaching four over at the turn before hitting his second shot on the 13th into bushes for a double bogey. Bryson DeChambeau also labored to four over despite recent form and strong Augusta history. Josh Sens described Rahm as looking wildly out of sorts throughout his bag, with the putter particularly betraying him.
