AUGUSTA, Ga. _ Rickie Fowler's 5-under-par 67 put him in position for a strong run at a Masters championship on Friday.
Fowler is tied for the 36-hole lead with Sergio Garcia, first-round leader Charley Hoffman and Masters rookie Thomas Pieters at 4-under-par.
They are two strokes ahead of William McGirt and three up on a group that includes Jon Rahm, Ryan Moore, Justin Rose and 57-year-old Fred Couples, who shot a 2-under-70.
Phil Mickelson bogeyed 16 and 17 to fall back to even par, four out of the lead. Jordan Spieth, the 2015 champ who never has finished lower than second here, birdied 16 and 18 and joined Mickelson at even, along with 2013 champ Adam Scott.
Fowler eagled the second hole and had only one bogey, on the par-5 15th. A birdie putt on 16 got him tied for the lead.
Hoffman, who shot a fabulous 65 on Thursday, stepped back to 75 on Thursday. Pieters, from Belgium, birdied three of his final 10 holes to become the first Masters rookie to share the lead at 36 holes since Brett Wetterich 10 years ago.
Among those missing the cut were two-time Masters winner Bubba Watson and British Open champion Henrik Stenson.
