“May Never Lose This Thing Again,” Fred Couples Jokes About Rory McIlroy After His Dominant Masters Start

Rory McIlroy fired an opening round score of 67 and finished the day as the co-leader in his title defense at the Masters Tournament.

“May Never Lose This Thing Again,” Fred Couples Jokes About Rory McIlroy After His Dominant Masters Start

Rory McIlroy and Fred Couples (Image via X/@GOLF_com/X/@UnderdogGolf)

On Thursday, Rory McIlroy began his Masters title defense at the Augusta National. The golfer started from where he left off last year, with an opening round score of 67. This led to Fred Couples joking about him and how he “may never lose” in this event again.

McIlroy, the World No.2, claimed his maiden Masters Tournament win and completed the career grand slam last year with a thrilling playoff victory over Justin Rose. This saw him become just the 6th golfer in men’s professional golf history to lift all 4 majors.

After a par on the first hole, the 5-time major champion birdied the next hole. He followed this with a bogey on the third hole. Birdies on holes 8 and 9 saw him finish the front nine with a 2-under par score.

Following 3 straight pars to start the front nine, McIlroy carded 3 successive birdies on Holes 13, 14 and 15. This saw him go 5-under par for the day and became the co-leader.

Pars on holes 16, 17 and 18 saw him wrap the day with a 5-under par score. He was tied with Sam Burns for the lead on top of the leaderboard.

Couples, who made his 41st start at the Masters, had some jokes regarding McIlroy. While speaking with James Colgan, the veteran golfer made a comment regarding the Northern Irish golfer while assessing the conditions of the course.

For the really good players, I think they want it like this. I know the Jon Rahms, the Schefflers, the Spieths, the Rory’s. By the way, Rory may never lose this thing again after last year. I said that to my caddie, on I think, the 12th hole. Then he birdied, made a couple coming in.

Fred Couples said regarding Rory McIlroy

The 66-year-old also started in strong fashion. He birdied the first two holes and finished the front nine with a 2-under par score. After a bogey on the 10th, he would birdied the 13th hole, seemingly turning back the clock.

Things went downhill for him on the 15th hole. A quadruple bogey (9) on the par-5 hole saw him suddenly go 2-over. He then made successive double bogeys on holes 16 and 17 and finished the day T73 with a 6-over score.

Rory McIlroy dropped major Masters flex following opening round score of 67

Rory McIlroy had a solid start to his title defense on Thursday with an opening round score of 67. Following this, he dropped a major Masters flex as he reflected on his performance.

Rory McIlroy
Rory McIlroy (Image via Instagram/@pgatour)

With 1 bogey and 6 birdies, McIlroy ended the day as the co-leader with Sam Burns. The American international carded 1 bogey, 4 birdies and 1 eagle to finish the day with a score of 67.

When asked by the reporters what his plan was for the evening after this round, McIlroy claimed that he would be sipping a drink while putting on the green jacket before calling it a day.

I’ll probably go up there (champions locker room) right now and have a little drink, put my green jacket on, and then call it a day.

Rory McIlroy told the reporters

McIlroy’s score of 67 was the 27th time he had shot 5-under or better in a major round. This is the 2nd most by any player. Tiger Woods leads this category with 35 rounds of 5-under or better scores in a major tournament.

The former World No.1 will be aiming to tie another record of Woods. The Masters Tournament has not had a repeat winner since 2002, when Woods claimed his 2nd successive win and his 3rd Masters title overall.

Only he, Sir Nick Faldo (1989, 1990) and Jack Nicklaus (1965, 1966) have won 2 straight Masters titles. McIlroy could become just the 4th golfer to go back-to-back in this event on Sunday.

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