Rory McIlroy Stumbles at the Masters and a One-Man Show Turns Into a Wide-Open Race

Augusta, Georgia — A tournament that had shaped up as Rory Mc’s personal procession veered sharply into uncertainty late on Friday, as the four-time major champion stumbled and the leaderboard compressed into a scramble that could include a dozen contenders by the weekend.

The Northern Irishman arrived at the Masters as the clear form player, but his charge stalled with an untimely run of errors that opened the door for a host of rivals. What had been billed as a one-man exhibition now appears a wide-open race for the coveted green jacket.

With the cut line still settling, the tournament’s narrative flipped from coronation to survival, setting up a weekend that could feature multiple lead changes and a parade of new names in contention.