AUGUSTA, Georgia, April 10 (Reuters) - Rory McIlroy ⁠needed a playoff to win his first Masters last year. Twelve months later, nobody can get near the free-wheeling ⁠Northern Irishman.

The defending champion fired a seven-under-par 65 on Friday — the lowest round of the week — to reach ‌12 under for the tournament and build the largest 36-hole lead in Masters history, six shots clear of Sam Burns and Patrick Reed.