2 w. ago Masters: Rory McIlroy leads in bid for career Grand Slam but Bryson DeChambeau rematch awaits

McIlroy’s round was among his best, but there is plenty still to do on Sunday

Politics

2 w. ago Rory McIlroy’s electric finish ignites Masters bid as Justin Rose leads pack

Northern Irishman roars into tie for third with sublime 66Rose leads on -8 with Bryson Dechambeau one shot backRory’s revenge. Rory McIlroy had opted to keep his thoughts to himself after the wounding end to his first round at the 89th Masters. An inspired follow up by the Northern Irishman made it easy to assume he had taken things personally. Did you think the two double bogeys in four closing holes ended his latest attempt at claiming the career grand slam? Think again. Courtesy of spellbinding, stunning golf, McIlroy blasted his way through the Georgia pines and back into contention.Statistical gurus had insisted glory was already beyond him. Craig Stadler was the last man to triumph here with more than one double bogey on his card. That happened in 1982. What the numerati failed to acknowledge was that McIlroy had 54 holes to recover. With 36 remaining, he sits two from Justin Rose. Buckle up. Continue reading...

Politics

2 w. ago Rory McIlroy revives bid to win Masters with spectacular second round charge as Justin Rose relishes challenge

Rory McIlroy is firmly back in contention after a disappointing opening round

Politics

2 w. ago Justin Rose still leads the way as Rory McIlroy aims to keep Masters bid alive

Rose reached the turn in his second round with a three-shot advantage.

Politics

2 w. ago Rory McIlroy’s Masters hopes dive but Justin Rose blooms amid azaleas

Northern Irishman slips to 72 after finding water on 15thRose shoots stunning 65 to race into three-shot leadThere continues to be an absence of dull moments when Rory McIlroy is around. Just when maybe, just maybe, his followers were daring to dream of Masters glory, Augusta National bit back at the 35-year-old. Plus ça change.This was box office; the problem being that for McIlroy himself and all those desperate to see him sample Masters success, the reasons were all wrong. Nobody could have predicted this stumble, such was his earlier touch. He was four under par and within three of the leaderboard-topping Justin Rose. The finding of water with a chip from behind the 15th green cost McIlroy an ugly, double-bogey seven. It is precisely the kind of number that can fatally undermine a Masters bid. Continue reading...

Politics

2 w. ago Scottie Scheffler makes ominous start in bid for third Masters title

Scheffler is aiming to become the fourth player after Jack Nicklaus, Nick Faldo and Tiger Woods to win back-to-back Masters.

Politics

2 w. ago Rory McIlroy to be among later starters as he begins bid to win the 89th Masters

McIlroy will play alongside Ryder Cup team-mate Ludvig Aberg and American Akshay Bhatia for the first two rounds at Augusta National.

Politics

3 w. ago Robert MacIntyre's Masters bid fuelled by Andy Murray advice and brown sauce

The Ryder Cup hero loves the "buzz" of competing in big events - and home comforts on the road

Politics

3 w. ago Robert MacIntyre: ‘Imagine taking a Green Jacket back to Glencruitten ’

After his ‘fairytale’ success last year, the Scottish golfer has his heart set on Masters gloryWhat a mistake it would be to presume the boy-next-door demeanour means a lack of competitive instinct. Robert MacIntyre’s love for Oban, shinty and all associated is endearing. He has also proved that he is perfectly comfortable in the company of golf’s aristocracy.MacIntyre missed the module where sportspeople are advised not to speak about lifetime aspirations. Mention the Masters to the Scot and he lights up. Absence makes the heart grow fonder; after impressing at Augusta National in 2021 and 2022, he failed to qualify for the next two stagings. MacIntyre returns for the 89th edition as the 17th-ranked player in the world. Continue reading...

Politics

3 w. ago Rory McIlroy told to emulate Masters champion in bid to win green jacket and become all

Rory McIlroy is just a Masters victory away from becoming just the sixth player to complete the Grand Slam, and the Northern Irishman will be gunning to end his wait next week

Politics

3 w. ago Rory McIlroy's £77m truth as he faces battle of the mind in bid for Masters 'Holy Grail'

Rory McIlroy has achieved almost all there is to do in the game of golf and amassed a huge personal fortune, but the one thing that has continued to elude him has been the Masters

Economics

4 w. ago How UFOs, aliens and virtual reality are inspiring Viktor Hovland's bid for Masters glory

EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW BY RIATH AL-SAMARRAI: To understand the undulations of Viktor Hovland's golf, it is probably necessary to start with the boundaries of his curiosity.

Politics