McIlroy takes historic six-shot Masters lead into weekend

Rory McIlroy seized a commanding and historic six-stroke lead at a sun-drenched Masters on Friday to leave a leaderboard packed with major title winners looking up at the defending champion as the tournament reached the halfway point.

McIlroy is 12-under par heading into the weekend with Americans Sam Burns and Patrick Reed tied for second at six under and Englishman Justin Rose, Ireland's Shane Lowry and Britain's Tommy Fleetwood one further adrift.

McIlroy got off to a sizzling start and capped his day with birdies on six of the last seven holes, holding his club high in the air as the patrons erupted when he chipped in at 17 on a pristine day at Augusta National.

McIlroy said that a weight of expectation had been lifted since he won the Masters last year to complete the career Grand Slam, and he is playing with a freedom that no one else in the field can match.

"I’ve always loved this tournament, I’ve always loved this golf course even when I felt it didn’t always love me back," McIlroy told Sky Sports after his round.

"I feel like I'm playing with the house's money which is a nice feeling to have."

McIlroy closed his round in breathtaking fashion, making six birdies over his final seven holes including a chip-in from off the 17th green before holing a six-foot putt at the last for a fourth consecutive birdie.

History is also in his favour. In the last 14 Masters, the eventual champion was no more than four shots behind the leader at the halfway point.

McIlroy is in an excellent position to become just the fourth player to win back-to-back Masters titles - and the first since Tiger Woods in 2002.

'KEEPING MY FOOT ON THE GAS'

It was a display of the kind of liberated, free-swinging golf that has eluded McIlroy at Augusta for much of his career, and one he attributed to finally getting the monkey off his back.

"Over the years this golf course is sometimes -- you know, my mindset hasn't been keep swinging. It's been guided, tentative," McIlroy told reporters.

"I think the experience I've accrued over the years and obviously with what happened last year, it makes it a bit easier out there to keep swinging."

Despite his commanding advantage, McIlroy has no desire to play it safe over the weekend.

"Look, I've built up a nice cushion at this point. I guess my mindset is just trying to keep playing well and keeping my foot on the gas," he said.

With a host of major champions lurking on a crowded leaderboard, McIlroy knows only too well that Augusta National can produce dramatic swings of momentum.

McIlroy infamously collapsed from a four-shot lead heading into the final round of the 2011 Masters, a meltdown that began with a wild drive at the 10th that led to a triple-bogey.

But the Northern Irishman said his plan over the final two rounds is simple — stay in his own world and block out the noise.

"Obviously this golf course has certain characteristics that guys can get on runs, guys can make eagles, you hear roars all over the golf course," he said.

"I think the next two days for me is really about focusing on myself.

"It's hard to avoid those big leaderboards out there, but like I know that I've got a lead. So I don't need to keep checking it all the time. So for me, just really focusing on myself and staying in my own little world out there is the best thing."

Among the notable players to miss the cut were Bryson DeChambeau, whose triple-bogey at the last cost him a place at the weekend, Cameron Smith and J.J. Spaun.