McIlroy, Burns Lead 2026 Masters After Round One

The 2026 Masters Tournament began Thursday at Augusta National Golf Club in Augusta, Georgia, drawing a field of 91 players to compete for the green jacket and a purse of at least $21 million in the season's first major championship. Defending champion Rory McIlroy fired a five-under-par 67 to share the lead after the opening round with Sam Burns, marking only the seventh time a titleholder has topped the leaderboard following day one.

McIlroy, who completed the career grand slam with his 2025 victory, started his title defense in the afternoon alongside Cameron Young and amateur Mason Howell. Burns, a 70-1 long shot entering the week, matched the Northern Irishman's score in a surprising surge. Two strokes back at three under were Kurt Kitayama, Jason Day and Patrick Reed, while world number one Scottie Scheffler sat tied for sixth at two under, positioned for a potential third win in his first seven starts. Scheffler, who arrived earlier in the week with his family after the birth of his second child, joined Justin Rose, Shane Lowry and Xander Schauffele in that group.

Struggles marked the rounds for some pre-tournament favorites, including LIV Golf's Bryson DeChambeau and...