Mcilroy's augusta obsession pays off with historic 6-shot lead

Rory McIlroy's relentless focus on augusta National Golf Club has yielded historic results, as the defending Masters champion holds a commanding six-stroke lead after the second round.

Scouting trips pay off in stunning fashion

McIlroy's 65, which included six birdies in the final seven holes, set a new Masters record. But it's not just his play that has McIlroy on the brink of becoming only the fourth golfer to win back-to-back titles here.

Far from taking a typical three-week break before the tournament, McIlroy made the most of his private jet, taking strategic scouting trips to augusta. He even dropped off his young daughter Poppy at school, flew up to the course, played a round, and returned home in time for dinner, all in the name of getting more time on the hallowed grounds.

'I honestly just don't like the three tournaments leading up to this event,' McIlroy confessed with a wry smile. 'I'd rather come up here. I did a couple of days where I dropped Poppy to school, flew up here, played, landed back home and had dinner with Poppy and Erica. It wasn't really about conserving energy, but just I felt the more time I could spend up here, the better.'

McIlroy's efforts bore fruit in a big way, as his extensive practice on the course allowed him to navigate its nuances with ease and post a record-tying score in the process.

Now, as he heads into the weekend with a cushy lead, McIlroy is focused on staying in his own world and not getting caught up in the hype surrounding his dominant position.

'I just want to go out and play two good rounds again,' he said. 'I think the next two days for me is really about focusing on myself. It's hard to avoid those big leaderboards out there, but I know that I've got a lead. I don't need to keep checking it all the time. So for me, just really focusing on myself and staying in my own little world out there is the best thing.'