Largest 36-Hole Leads in The Masters

What is the largest lead any golfer has held following two rounds of The Masters? The answer is six strokes. A 6-shot lead is the biggest 36-hole lead in Masters history.

Rory McIlroy set that record in the 2026 tournament, opening with rounds of 67 and 65. That 132 total was six strokes ahead of the two second-place golfers at the 36-hole stage, Sam Burns and Patrick Reed.

Prior to McIlroy, the record had been a 5-stroke lead after 36 holes. That record was shared by six golfers. And only one of those golfers failed to go on and win the tournament.

(See also: Largest 54-hole leads in The Masters)

The List: Biggest Masters Leads After Two Rounds

• 6 strokes — Rory McIlroy (67-65—132), 2026 Masters.

• 5 strokes — Harry Cooper (70-69—139), 1936 Masters, finished second. "Lighthorse Harry" Cooper is the only golfer on this list who did not go on to win. He still led by three following the third round. But Cooper scored 76 in the final round and fell to second, one stroke behind the winner Horton Smith.

• 5 strokes — Herman Keiser (69-68—137), 1946 Masters, won. Keiser still led by five — over second-place Ben Hogan — after 54 holes. In the final round, he carded a 74 and 3-putted the final hole to open the door for Hogan. But Hogan then 3-putted the final hole, too, and Keiser won by a stroke.

• 5 strokes — Jack Nicklaus (68-67—135), 1975 Masters, won. Nicklaus lost his lead with a 73 in Round 3, and trailed Tom Weiskopf by one going into the final round. But he scored 68 in that final round to win by one stroke over Weiskopf and Johnny Miller.

• 5 strokes — Raymond Floyd (65-66—131), 1976 Masters, won. Floyd's lead grew to eight after the third round. And he won by eight over second-place Ben Crenshaw.

• 5 strokes — Jordan Spieth (64-66—130), 2015 Masters, won. Spieth's lead was four following the third round. He won by four over runners-up Justin Rose and Phil Mickelson.

• 5 strokes — Scottie Scheffler (69-67—136), 2022 Masters, won. Scheffler's lead was three following the third round. He won by three strokes over second-place Rory McIlroy.

See also: More Masters Tournament Records