Record-breaking Rory McIlroy holds six-shot lead at halfway stage of Masters

Rory McIlroy looked in ominous mood after racing clear of the pack with a record-breaking performance around Augusta National as the grip on his Masters defence became a stranglehold.

The Northern Irishman, seeking to become only the fourth man to win back-to-back titles, shot a 65 to go with Thursday’s 67 to post at 12 under, three shots better than any other defending champion had managed after two rounds.

That was six better than nearest rivals Patrick Reed, the 2018 champion, and Sam Burns and set the Masters record for the largest 36-hole lead.

It sent a clear message that if they wanted the green jacket they would have to produce something significantly better.

On the eve of the tournament the world number two had said, considering the hard and fast conditions, double digits under par “would be an amazing score”. He was referring to Sunday.

In that respect he is two days ahead of schedule but light years ahead – evidenced by six birdies in his last seven holes – of a stacked leaderboard which had four other major winners trailing in his wake.

After reeling off three successive birdies from the second to get to eight under he responded to two bogeys mid-round with five birdies in six holes from the 12th.

His brilliant approach, trickling down the slope to three feet at the 16th, put a third two on his card and he could seemingly do no wrong as, having punched out from under the trees, he chipped in at the next.

As if to underline his dominance, McIlroy’s approach to six feet at the last brought a ninth birdie of the day.

Reed had to settle for a second-successive 69 after dropping his only shot at the last, which meant he missed out on a third-round final pairing with McIlroy.

That dubious honour went to Burns, who finished with three birdies in his last four holes much earlier in the day for a 71.

Justin Rose was five under after four birdies in five holes from the seventh boosted a round that was going nowhere.

The Englishman said last year’s near miss in a play-off had no bearing on his current approach.

“Of course I want to win this tournament. I don’t really need to try any harder,” he said.

“I just think the experience in that is probably trying harder ain’t going to help me so that’s probably the dance I’m doing with myself. I know the intrinsic motivation is there.”

Ryder Cup team-mates Shane Lowry and Tommy Fleetwood joined him on that score after a 69 and 68 respectively, with the Irishman saying: “If you gave me this position yesterday morning I would have taken your hand off.”