Justin Rose recovered from a stuttering start to continue to set the pace in the 85th Masters as a high-class chasing pack took shape at Augusta National.
Rose held a four-shot lead following a brilliant 65 on a tough opening day when just two other players broke 70, but saw that wiped out after covering his first 12 holes in three over.
Three birdies in the next four holes took Rose back out in front and a second round of 72 kept the 2013 US Open champion in pole position in pursuit of a second major title.
At seven under par, Rose was two shots ahead of 2015 champion Jordan Spieth and Australia’s Marc Leishman, with world number two Justin Thomas a stroke further back alongside Tony Finau and Bernd Wiesberger, who both shot 66.
Among the big names to miss the cut were defending champions Dustin Johnson, Rory McIlroy, Brooks Koepka and Lee Westwood.
Relive all the action from day two at Augusta:
Read more:
- Who is going to win The Masters? Betting tips and tournament picks
- How to watch The Masters: Live stream and TV channel information
- Inside the mind of Bryson DeChambeau, golf’s polarising genius
- ‘Kind, generous and a loyal cat’: Meet the real Dustin Johnson
- Matt Fitzpatrick: ‘I can go there and win. That’s an amazing feeling’
