Justin Rose continued his quest for a maiden Masters triumph at the age of 44 with a solid second round while Rory McIlroy raced back into contention at Augusta National.
Veteran Englishman Rose, whose only previous major title came at the 2013 US Open, carded four birdies and three bogeys in a one-under 71 to sit on eight under at the midway point.
McIlroy shot a superb six-under 66 – the lowest round of the day – to move two behind his European Ryder Cup team-mate and alongside Canada’s Corey Conners.
In between them is American superstar Bryson DeChambeau on seven under.
Defending champion Scottie Scheffler took 71 shots in a rollercoaster round, putting him on five under in a group alongside England’s Tyrrell Hatton, Ireland’s Shane Lowry and American debutant Matt McCarty.
Norway’s Viktor Hovland, Denmark’s Rasmus Hojgaard and Australia’s Jason Day are four under after 36 holes.
“If [winning the Masters] was a secret recipe, you’d know it by now,” said Rose.
“The leaderboard is stacking up with world-class players.
“So you’re going to have to play great golf, and you’re going to have to go out there and want it and go for it and get after it. It’s as simple as that.”
