Silent Treatment: McIlroy Skips Media Amid Masters Letdown

McIlroy Chooses Silence

Rory McIlroy didn't speak to the media after his late first round woes at The Masters on Thursday. TheHolywoodman opted not to field questions following a disappointing finish to his opening round at Augusta.

Masters Leaderboard Update

McIlroy was heading for an impressive start to his 2025 tournament and was sitting four under par through the first 14 holes, but double bogeys on the 15th and 17th saw the World number two finish on level par for the day, leaving him seven shots behind leader Justin Rose. The Englishman has the first-round lead at the Masters for a record fifth time as he broke the record he had shared with Jack Nicklaus for topping the leaderboard after 18 holes.

Rose Extends Lead

Meanwhile, Shane Lowry is six shots behind Rose and one ahead of McIlroy after mixing four birdies with three bogeys on Thursday. Former US Open winner Rose has a three-shot lead over defending champion Scottie Scheffler, 2024 runner-up Ludvig Aberg, and Canada’s Corey Conners, with Tyrrell Hatton and Bryson DeChambeau another shot back. Rose, who lost a play-off to Sergio Garcia in 2017, will be well aware that Scheffler had earlier made an ominous start to his bid for a third Masters title in four years courtesy of a bogey-free 68.

McIlroy's Shaky Performance

“I would have felt pretty good about it,” Scheffler said when asked if he would have taken a 68 before teeing off. “I had a feeling the golf course was going to get pretty firm. The areas to hit your irons out here are pretty small and they get even smaller when the greens are firm.” McIlroy looked on course to at least match Scheffler’s score when he reached four under par with a two-putt birdie on the 13th, but missed from short range for another on the next and then ran up a double bogey on the 15th after chipping from over the green into the water at the front. He also double-bogeyed the 17th after hitting his approach over the green and three-putting from 20 feet, but at least saved par on the 18th after a wayward drive. McIlroy gets his second round at Augusta underway just before 3pm UK time on Friday.