Rory McIlroy catches fire, shoots 66 to get back into contention at the Masters

AUGUSTA, Ga. (AP) — Rory McIlroy’s fragile mental state got a big boost when he left Augusta National on Thursday night, shortly after a pair of late double bogeys had cast a pall on an otherwise brilliant round, in time to put his 4-year-old daughter, Poppy, to bed.

It got another when he arrived on Friday and spoke with famed sports psychologist Bob Rotella.

His advice to McIlroy: Be patient.

The 35-year-old Northern Irishman did exactly that during his second round of the Masters, methodically touring the first nine before catching fire on the second. He made three birdies and an eagle down the stretch, resulting in a 6-under 66 that put him right back in contention as McIlroy tries to chase down the only leg missing from the career Grand Slam.

“I think overall just proud of myself with how I responded today after the finish last night,” said McIlroy, who after so many close calls seems to be the sentimental favorite — if not the outright one — to finally win a green jacket.

“I just had to remind myself that I played really good golf yesterday, and you know, I wasn't going to let, you know, two bad holes sort of dictate the narrative for the rest of the week. But yeah, just ultimately proud of how I got back into it today.”

McIlroy's run began at the 10th, when he stuck his approach within 2 feet. It continued at the next, when a 351-yard drive set up another good approach that McIlroy stuck to 5 feet for another birdie. On the par-3 12th, he was fortunate to see his tee shot bounce out of the bushes left of the green, leaving him with an up-and-down opportunity to save par.

Then came the reachable par-5 13th, where McIlroy's drive found the pine straw right of the fairway.

He had a good lie and nothing in his way, though, and about 190 yards to the front of the green. McIlroy went back and forth between his 4-iron and 5-iron, ultimately settled on the 4, and then thought for one frightful moment that a slight mishit might not have enough oomph to carry it past the water fronting the green.

“I was like: ‘You idiot. What did you do?’” McIlroy said. "It's a pin that even if you do hit it into the hazard, it's a pretty — not a routine up-and-down, but a little easier than, say, where the pin was yesterday in that front section.

“Yeah,” McIlroy said, “I rode my luck a little bit with that second shot, but was nice to take advantage of it.”

McIlroy added another birdie at the par-5 15th, where his chip from behind the green Thursday took a big hop, picked up speed and rolled all the way into the water. It was the first of his two double bogeys down the stretch, and to come back and birdie the same hole less than 24 hours later underscored the way McIlroy was able to bounce back Friday.

“He just kind of had it going. He didn’t make many mistakes,” said Akshay Bhatia, who played in the same group. “He drove it on a rope the first two days when I played with him. It’s really cool to see. He’s the best driver in our game.”

It was the sixth time that McIlroy shot 66 or better at the Masters, moving into a tie with Jack Nicklaus and Jordan Spieth for the second most in tournament history. Tiger Woods has eight such rounds — and five green jackets.

Perhaps by the end of the weekend, McIlroy will have one, too.

Justin Rose continued to lead the way, following his opening 65 with a 1-under 71 to reach 8 under. Bryson DeChambeau was one shot back after his 68 on Friday. Then came McIlroy, right behind them on a leaderboard filled with big names.

He was quick to caution that leading on Friday is not the same as leading on Sunday. McIlroy has been in that position, too, and failed to finish the job. But he gave himself a chance with a stellar second round, and that was all he really wanted.

“Again, golf tournaments are so long, and there’s so much that can happen, even in the next 36 holes,” McIlroy said. "My mindset was: ‘I shot even par yesterday. I probably need to get to somewhere between 12- and 15-under to win this tournament.’

“You know, there was plenty of time to do that. So yeah, again, just about staying patient.”

AP Masters coverage: https://apnews.com/hub/the-masters

Rory McIlroy, of Northern Ireland, waits to hit on the first hole during the second round at the Masters golf tournament, Friday, April 11, 2025, in Augusta, Ga. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)

Rory McIlroy, of Northern Ireland, watches his tee shot on the fourth hole during the second round at the Masters golf tournament, Friday, April 11, 2025, in Augusta, Ga. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson)

Rory McIlroy, of Northern Ireland, reacts to his tee shot on the fourth hole during the second round at the Masters golf tournament, Friday, April 11, 2025, in Augusta, Ga. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson)

Rory McIlroy, of Northern Ireland, waves after making a putt on the 12th hole during the second round at the Masters golf tournament, Friday, April 11, 2025, in Augusta, Ga. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)

Rory McIlroy, of Northern Ireland, waves after making a putt on the 12th hole during the second round at the Masters golf tournament, Friday, April 11, 2025, in Augusta, Ga. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)

Rory McIlroy, of Northern Ireland, watches his tee shot on the 12th hole during the second round at the Masters golf tournament, Friday, April 11, 2025, in Augusta, Ga. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)

DENVER (AP) — Kawhi Leonard scored 39 points on 15-of-19 shooting and the Los Angeles Clippers evened their first-round playoff series against the Nuggets with a 105-102 win in Denver on Monday night.

“It feels like he didn't miss a shot,” James Harden said. “His shot-making ability is elite.”

Good thing, too, because his teammates were a combined 26 of 66 for a 39% clip.

“I made shots tonight,” Leonard said. “I just keep playing, try to stay in the zone no matter if I’m making or missing shots.”

And the fifth-seeded Clippers needed every bit of his brilliance to snatch the homecourt advantage in the series from the fourth-seeded Nuggets.

“This is what Kawhi lives for, getting healthy for the playoffs,” Clippers coach Tyronn Lue said. “We know if we've got a healthy Kawhi, we can win any series.”

After appearing in just two playoff games over the last two years, the 33-year-old two-time Finals MVP is healthy and looking like his old self after missed the first 34 games of the season because of lingering issues with his surgically repaired knees.

“I'm just happy I'm able to move, you know, coming out of the game feeling well,” Leonard said. “I sat and watched these playoff games the last two years, so yeah, to be front-line out there, it feels good.”

Christian Braun was long on a 3-pointer with 6 seconds left, and Nikola Jokic, who recorded his 19th career playoff triple-double, grabbed the rebound but also missed a 3, with 1 second remaining.

The series shifts to Los Angeles for Game 3 Thursday night.

The Clippers, who lost Game 1 in overtime, haven’t lost back-to-back games since March 2-4, a stretch of 23 games, and they handed David Adelman his first loss in five games since replacing Michael Malone in a stunning move on the eve of the playoffs.

Jokic, just the third player to average a triple-double over a season, had 26 points, 12 rebounds and 10 assists and Jamal Murray added 23 points for the Nuggets, who also got a bounce-back game from Michael Porter Jr. (15 points and 15 rebounds) after his 3-point performance in Game 1.

It wasn't enough against Leonard, who had 21 points at the break, including a pull-up 3-pointer at the halftime buzzer that broke a 52-all tie.

“To his credit, he was awesome tonight,” Adelman said.

“He just got to his spots,” Murray said. “And even when we're there he made some tough shots. He had a night. He got going and he was tough to stop.”

Leonard also had a key steal of a Jokic pass with 37 seconds remaining in the game, but Harden missed at the other end and Braun grabbed the defensive rebound with 11 seconds left.

The Nuggets committed 20 turnovers — the same number the Clippers had in Game 1 — and missed eight free throws. “That was a killer,” Adelman said.

Jokic had an uncharacteristic seven turnovers and missed 4 of 10 free throws.

Porter sprained his left shoulder in the closing minutes when he turned the ball over and hit the floor with Kris Dunn rolling over him in the scramble. Porter grimaced while getting dressed afterward and said he hoped that his shooting in L.A. won't be affected being that it was his left shoulder.

AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/nba

Los Angeles Clippers center Ivica Zubac, top right, looks to pass the ball to guard James Harden, bottom right, as Denver Nuggets forward Michael Porter Jr., left, defends in the first half of Game 2 of a first-round NBA playoff series Monday, April 21, 2025, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

Los Angeles Clippers guard James Harden, center front, looks to pass the ball as Denver Nuggets forward Aaron Gordon (32), forward Michael Porter Jr., center back, and center Nikola Jokic, right, defend in the first half of Game 2 of a first-round NBA playoff series Monday, April 21, 2025, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

Denver Nuggets guard Jamal Murray, top, drives to the basket as Los Angeles Clippers guard James Harden, bottom, defends in the first half of Game 2 of a first-round NBA playoff series Monday, April 21, 2025, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

Los Angeles Clippers forward Kawhi Leonard, right, looks to pass the ball as Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic, left, and forward Michael Porter Jr., center, defend in the first half of Game 2 of a first-round NBA playoff series Monday, April 21, 2025, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

Los Angeles Clippers center Ivica Zubac, right, drives past Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic, left, in the first half of Game 2 of a first-round NBA playoff series Monday, April 21, 2025, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)