Patrick Reed off to a flyer as Rory McIlroy begins Masters defence

By Carl Markham, Press Association, Augusta

Rory McIlroy began the defence of his Masters title with a couple of former champions already making their mark at Augusta National.

By the time the Northern Irishman teed off at 10.31am local time (3.31pm BST) 2018 winner Patrick Reed was already three under through two holes after a birdie-eagle start.

More of a surprise was 60-year-old two-time winner Jose Maria Olazabal rolling back the years.

The Spaniard, who won his last green jacket in 1999, admits he struggles with the extended length of the modern course and the primary aim this week was to get to the weekend.

Azaleas and Amen Corner await. #themasters pic.twitter.com/Dm3c61eVK0

— The Masters (@TheMasters) April 9, 2026

But he birdied the second and third to sit a shot off the early lead as he reached the turn, with England’s Tommy Fleetwood two under through three after successive birdies.

McIlroy was warmly received on the first tee but his drive went left, rolling into the first cut and right up to a patron sat in one of the thousands of camping chairs sold in the club shop this week.

He recovered to the front of the green and chipped to five feet to save par.

Bryson DeChambeau, one of the favourites this week, went left at the second and was forced to take penalty drop and bogeyed a hole which was an easy birdie opportunity.