Sir Nick Faldo delivers verdict on Rory McIlroy after round two of The Masters and predicts if he can finally win

Add as preferred source on Google

Rory McIlroy may never have a better chance to finally win The Masters after his second round 66 and Sir Nick Faldo has given an honest verdict on how he sees McIlroy right now.

McIlroy shot the lights out around Augusta National after his dismal finish in round one left him level par.

However, a six-under 66 – and it could have been even better – have put McIlroy right in the mix to win going into the weekend with a stacked leaderboard around him.

For McIlroy, the green jacket is the only thing missing from a superb career and completing the career grand slam in 2025 would be his ideal.

And according to Sir Nick Faldo, McIlroy might just do it this time.

Sir Nick Faldo says if Rory McIlroy can now win The Masters after his second round 66

With McIlroy being one of the major talking points for the British media especially, the subject was always going to turn to the Northern Irishman after such a round.

And over on Sky Sports, three-time Masters champ Sir Nick Faldo gave his verdict on McIlroy and suggested that finally, it could be his year.

“I think he’s doing great,” Faldo said when asked to sum up McIlroy’s game. “He’s come in with the right…as I was trying to talk about yesterday I’m only guessing what his ‘mental plan’ is and where he wants to go.

“You know there was the chat with great Jack Nicklaus last week and Jack said he didn’t have to say a word to him, listened to his game plan and how he positions himself around the golf course.

“It’s all how you react when something goes wrong, which it will do. Can you get away with it and then how does it affect you going on cos I can promise you that when you start to see the trouble, you’ve got to deal with it on the next hole.

“But he’s been around here enough times. He knows the sections of the green which are dangerous, where to play sensibly. Like that was a good example (the shot on 17). Just be slightly long. You don’t have to be the hero and land it right in the number. More than likely, he looks really good and he might just do it this time.”

• READ MORE: Golf fans left angry with The Masters organisers after their decision involving Bryson DeChambeau on day two

Rory McIlroy’s best ever round at The Masters

While McIlroy’s 66 this year is one of this best ever at the tournament, it still comes up just shy of his best ever effort for one round.

Back in 2022, McIlroy went on a charge on the final day when out of contention as he shot a remarkable 64 and somehow muster a second placed finish.

In the end, Scottie Scheffler still held on to win by three shots but it showed there and then that when he’s on it, McIlroy can beat Augusta.

The question now is whether he can capitalise on his amazing second round in 2025 and put up a similar number in round three to give himself the ultimate chance come Sunday.