Follow along for live coverage from the second round of the Masters.
Jack Nicklaus knows a thing or two about winning back-to-back green jackets at Augusta National Golf Club in the Masters Tournament.
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So, what was the advice to reach that feat from the six-time Masters champion to Rory McIlroy before Thursday’s first round?
The 2025 Masters Tournament champion shared that piece of advice with CBS Sports’ Amanda Balionis before he teed off in Friday’s second round, which created an instant laugh between the two with Nicklaus listening in from inside Butler Cabin.
“No (expletive) double bogeys,” McIlroy told Balionis. “Apparently, he thought I made too many last year.”
To Nicklaus’ point, McIlroy finished with four double bogeys last year at Augusta National Golf Club, including a pair on Sunday, which almost cost him winning the first golf major of the season as he had to go into a playoff with Justin Rose.
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“When he won the Masters here last year, he now doesn’t have anything more to accomplish. He won the Grand Slam, won all the majors. But he’s got a lot more to prove. He’s still a young guy,” Nicklaus told Terry Gannon inside Butler Cabin after Balionis’ interview with McIlroy.
“He’s a great player. The remark I made to him yesterday was that Rory always makes double bogeys or triple bogeys here, which puts him out of the tournament. But maybe now that you’ve won it, he’s a little bit more relaxed and he’s now ready to go prove a little bit more.”
There hasn’t been a back-to-back Masters champion since Tiger Woods did so in 2001 and 2002.
McIlroy’s chase for a second consecutive green jacket got off to a strong start on Thursday, as he shot 67, which put him at 5-under par and in first place on the leaderboard going into Friday. He recorded six birdies in his first round, with his 67 score tied for the third lowest first round by a defending champion in the history of the Masters.
He’s also double-bogey-free at the time of this writing. He finished with just one bogey in the first round, which came on the par-4 No. 3 hole.
McIlroy will now look to head into the weekend with his spot still atop the leaderboard, as his second round got underway at 1:44 p.m. ET on Friday. He’ll also look to stay double-bogey-free (and keep Nicklaus off his case for one day more) at the same time.
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See photos of Rory McIlroy tied for the lead after Round 1
On Thursday at Augusta National, the Masters begins with tradition, patience and the steady pressure that comes with the opening round.
These images capture Rory McIlroy’s game during Thursday’s opening round.
Above, Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland plays his shot from the fifth tee during the first round of the Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club on April 9, 2026 in Augusta, Georgia.
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See photos of Rory McIlroy tied for the lead after Round 1
On Thursday at Augusta National, the Masters begins with tradition, patience and the steady pressure that comes with the opening round.
These images capture Rory McIlroy’s game during Thursday’s opening round.
Above, Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland plays his shot from the fifth tee during the first round of the Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club on April 9, 2026 in Augusta, Georgia.
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See photos of Rory McIlroy tied for the lead after Round 1
Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland plays his shot from the 16th tee during the first round of the 2026 Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club on April 9, 2026 in Augusta, Georgia.
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See photos of Rory McIlroy tied for the lead after Round 1
Rory McIlroy lines up a putt on the eighth green during the first round of the 2026 Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club.
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See photos of Rory McIlroy tied for the lead after Round 1
Rory McIlroy walks up the 18th hole during the first round of the Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club.
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See photos of Rory McIlroy tied for the lead after Round 1
Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland reacts after a birdie on the 15th green during the first round of the 2026 Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club on April 09, 2026 in Augusta, Georgia.
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See photos of Rory McIlroy tied for the lead after Round 1
Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland chips onto the second green during the first round of the 2026 Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club on April 9, 2026 in Augusta, Georgia.
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See photos of Rory McIlroy tied for the lead after Round 1
Rory McIlroy watches his shot from the second cut on the second fairway during the first round of the Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club.
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See photos of Rory McIlroy tied for the lead after Round 1
Rory McIlroy putts on the second green during the first round of the Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club.
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See photos of Rory McIlroy tied for the lead after Round 1
Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland reacts on the eighth green during the first round of the 2026 Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club on April 9, 2026 in Augusta, Georgia.
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See photos of Rory McIlroy tied for the lead after Round 1
Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland his caddie Harry Diamond looks on while playing the eighth hole during the first round of the 2026 Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club on April 9, 2026 in Augusta, Georgia.
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See photos of Rory McIlroy tied for the lead after Round 1
Rory McIlroy walks down the fifth fairway during the first round of the Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club.
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See photos of Rory McIlroy tied for the lead after Round 1
Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland putts on the fifth green during the first round of the 2026 Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club on April 9, 2026 in Augusta, Georgia.
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See photos of Rory McIlroy tied for the lead after Round 1
Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland lines up a putt on the first green during the first round of the 2026 Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club on April 9, 2026 in Augusta, Georgia.
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See photos of Rory McIlroy tied for the lead after Round 1
Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland reacts on the second green during the first round of the 2026 Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club on April 9, 2026, in Augusta, Georgia.
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See photos of Rory McIlroy tied for the lead after Round 1
Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland walks the second fairway during the first round of the 2026 Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club on April 9, 2026, in Augusta, Georgia.
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See photos of Rory McIlroy tied for the lead after Round 1
Rory McIlroy looks on from the second green during the first round of the Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club.
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See photos of Rory McIlroy tied for the lead after Round 1
Rory McIlroy tees off on the 12th hole during the first round of the Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club.
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See photos of Rory McIlroy tied for the lead after Round 1
Rory McIlroy tees off on the eighth hole during the first round of the Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club.
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See photos of Rory McIlroy tied for the lead after Round 1
Rory McIlroy looks on from the seventh green during the first round of the Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club.
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See photos of Rory McIlroy tied for the lead after Round 1
Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland prepares for a shot with his caddie Harry Diamond on the first hole during the first round of the 2026 Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club on April 9, 2026, in Augusta, Georgia.
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See photos of Rory McIlroy tied for the lead after Round 1
A detailed view of the name of Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland on the back of his caddie Harry Diamond on the eighth green during the first round of the 2026 Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club on April 9, 2026, in Augusta, Georgia.
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See photos of Rory McIlroy tied for the lead after Round 1
Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland his caddie Harry Diamond looks on while playing the eighth hole during the first round of the 2026 Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club on April 9, 2026, in Augusta, Georgia.
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See photos of Rory McIlroy tied for the lead after Round 1
Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland looks on from the second green during the first round of the 2026 Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club on April 9, 2026, in Augusta, Georgia.
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See photos of Rory McIlroy tied for the lead after Round 1
Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland chips onto the first green during the first round of the 2026 Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club on April 9, 2026, in Augusta, Georgia.
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See photos of Rory McIlroy tied for the lead after Round 1
Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland plays a shot from the 12th hole tee box during the first round of the 2026 Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club on April 9, 2026, in Augusta, Georgia.
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See photos of Rory McIlroy tied for the lead after Round 1
Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland walks the first fairway during the first round of the 2026 Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club on April 9, 2026, in Augusta, Georgia.
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See photos of Rory McIlroy tied for the lead after Round 1
Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland reacts after a birdie on the 15th green during the first round of the 2026 Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club on April 9, 2026, in Augusta, Georgia.
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See photos of Rory McIlroy tied for the lead after Round 1
Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland walks to the 13th green during the first round of the 2026 Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club on April 9, 2026, in Augusta, Georgia.
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See photos of Rory McIlroy tied for the lead after Round 1
Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland walks to the 13th green during the first round of the 2026 Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club on April 9, 2026, in Augusta, Georgia.
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See photos of Rory McIlroy tied for the lead after Round 1
Rory McIlroy lines up his shot in the second cut on the second fairway during the first round of the Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club.
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See photos of Rory McIlroy tied for the lead after Round 1
Rory McIlroy tees off on the first hole during the first round of the Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club.
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See photos of Rory McIlroy tied for the lead after Round 1
Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland looks on from the 18th green during the first round of the 2026 Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club on April 09, 2026 in Augusta, Georgia.
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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Rory McIlroy shares Jack Nicklaus’ advice for second Masters title
