World number one Scottie Scheffler battled to secure a share of the lead at -6 alongside Bryson DeChambeau and Max Homa as Rory McIlroy’s quest for a long-awaited major fell flat after a difficult second round at The Masters.
With winds up, conditions proved extremely difficult at Augusta National as the day wore on but Scheffler’s disciplined level-par round saw him remain in the hunt for his second green jacket.
DeChambeau had held the overnight lead after a sparkling 65 on Thursday, but a bogey on the last hole saw the LIV Golfer record a one-over-par 73 to match the clubhouse lead set by Max Homa who put together a consummate display of ball-striking en route to a one-under-par 71.
Leading the chasers is young Dane Nicolai Hojgaard who produced a spirited round of 73 to reach the clubhouse at -4, while Australia’s Cameron Davis and two-time major champion Collin Morikawa are one shot further back on -3.
Elsewhere, Rory McIlroy’s bid to end a ten-year major drought faltered following his disappointing birdie-less round of 77, while Jon Rahm’s hopes of defending his Masters title are all but over after the Spaniard’s four-over-par round of 76 left him 11 shots back at the halfway stage.
Tiger Woods, meanwhile, battled through 23 holes on Friday to make a record-breaking 24th consecutive cut at Augusta. The American had to come back early in the day to finish his first round before shooting a gusty even-par round of 72 to leave himself seven shots back of the leading trio.
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