Rory McIlroy has played his way into an excellent position to retain his Masters title over the first two rounds.
McIlroy overcame some struggles off the tee to shoot a five-under-par 67 at Augusta National on Thursday.
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He followed that up with an even better 65 on Friday to extend his lead over Patrick Reed and Sam Burns to six strokes.
Wayne Riley watched McIlroy closely in his second round and noticed something telling about his attitude.
Wayne Riley notices ‘ghostly look’ from Rory McIlroy at The Masters
Riley has revealed what happened in a short but significant interaction with McIlroy on day two of The Masters.
The Sky Sports Golf pundit made ‘eye contact’ with the Northern Irishman and was impressed by his laser focus.
“It takes me back to the 2011 US Open at Congressional, where he won by about eight, with the spring in his step and the way he’s swinging it so freely,” Riley said. “He’s playing like a young boy, as he was then.
Photo by Andrew Redington/Getty Images
“I made eye contact with him yesterday on the golf course. Rory and I have known each other for a long time – we’re mates – and there was nothing. There was sort of a ghostly look, like he was in the zone.
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“He wants this big style, and it’s so refreshing to see. The demeanour more than the golf springs to mind. He is the zone, a Masters zone.”
Many experts have highlighted how relaxed McIlroy looks this year, but Riley’s revelation suggests that is not entirely true.
While he is clearly under less pressure than last year, he remains absolutely determined to win another Green Jacket as soon as possible.
Through two rounds, it appears that McIlroy has found the perfect balance between intensity and composure at Augusta.
As long as he continues in the same vein over the weekend, he will become only the fourth player to win consecutive Masters trophies.
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