Rory McIlroy is well and truly up and running at The Masters, where he co-leads with Sam Burns after round one.
McIlroy carded a five-under 67 at Augusta National shortly after Burns had done the same, with the pair holding a two-shot lead at the top of the leaderboard.
While the American is chasing his maiden major championship win, the Northern Irishman is looking to successfully defend his title.
Only three players have achieved that feat in the history of The Masters, with McIlroy now in a fine position to follow suit.
While that achievement is some distance away, he has just matched a feat at Augusta last achieved by Jordan Spieth.
Rory McIlroy matches Jordan Spieth with co-lead at The Masters
As per PGA Tour Communications on X, McIlroy has just become the seventh winner of The Masters to hold the first-round lead or co-lead the year after victory.
American ace Spieth was the most recent player to achieve that feat, doing so in 2016.
He claimed his first major win at The Masters in 2015, and fell just short of defending his title in 2016, finishing T2 behind champion Danny Willett.
Three-time major winner Spieth has returned to Augusta this year, and is T17 after an even par 72 in round one.
Meanwhile, McIlroy now holds the first-round lead/co-lead on the PGA Tour for the 25th time in his career, compared to the fourth for Burns.
Rory McIlroy wants to hit more fairways in round two of The Masters
Only Jack Nicklaus, Sir Nick Faldo and Tiger Woods have been able to successfully defend their title in Georgia.
Nicklaus was the first to do so in 1966, followed by fellow icons Faldo in 1990 and Woods in 2002.
McIlroy is currently in with a great chance of following in their legendary footsteps, although he has admitted that more fairways must be hit in round two.
“I couldn’t have asked for much more, especially after the way I started,” he told BBC Sport NI.
“In the trees on one, in the trees on two, in the trees on five, in the trees on seven – actually on another fairway on seven.
“Honestly, even more pleased with the first seven holes playing those in even par. Then when I started swinging a bit better, I could string some good holes together and make some birdies.
“But yeah I definitely relied on my short game and my experience today, and hopefully I hit a few more fairways tomorrow and give myself a few more chances.
“Having won last year, I think it makes it easier to handle difficult situations on the course here. I didn’t panic, I didn’t overreact whenever I couldn’t hit a fairway.
“Just kept swinging and then thankfully started to swing it a little bit better for sort of the last 10-and-a-half holes.”
McIlroy is out in the second-last group of the day at Augusta, where he will once again be joined by Cameron Young and Mason Howell.
Young finds himself T33 after his opening round 73, while amateur Howell is T65 after a five-over 77.
Read more:
Sam Burns has already noticed a change in the greens at Augusta this year
Fred Couples shares Rory McIlroy prediction he made to his caddie midway through day one at Augusta
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