AUGUSTA, Georgia, USA (AP) - Justin Rose did just enough to stay at the top on Friday at the Masters. But now he has plenty of company at the top of the leaderboard heading into the weekend at Augusta National.
Bryson DeChambeau became the only player with consecutive rounds under 70 and positioned himself just one stroke off the lead, earning a spot in the final group that will tee off on Saturday. Right behind him was Rory McIlroy, who tried to erase from his memory the careless finish in the first round and joined the competition in search of the only Grand Slam title missing from his collection.
Scottie Scheffler began his title defense with 24 consecutive bogey-free holes. He then incurred five bogeys in the last 12 holes, which slowed down his progress. Nevertheless, when he walked to the Augusta National clubhouse, he was three shots behind the leader.
Justin Rose is looking for the second major of his career
Rose reached the second round with a three-stroke lead and was fortunate to play early, before the wind became strong enough to rustle the flags and create uncertainty.
He was placed at 136 strokes, eight under par, the third time he has led after 36 holes at the Masters.
If he wins and conquers the second major of his career (the first was the US Open), he would become the second oldest player to win the Masters at Augusta, at 44 years old, behind the legend Jack Nicklaus, who won at 46 years old in 1986.
After Rose closed her second round, all the excitement came.
DeChambeau achieved an unexpected birdie by holing out from the bunker on the par 3 of the 4th hole, on his way to a 32 on the first nine holes that kept him on Rose’s heels the rest of the way. He finished with a 68 for his best start at the Masters.
And then there was McIlroy, who had two double bogeys in the last four holes on Thursday, the latest frustrating chapter for him at the Masters. This time, he managed to forget about it and move on. He started the final nine holes with birdie-birdie-par-eagle and went on to shoot a bogey-free 66 round.
“I had to remind myself that I was playing well,” said McIlroy. “I couldn’t let two bad holes dictate the narrative of the 16 good ones. I also had to remind myself this morning not to push too early.”