Rory McIlroy set the clubhouse target on a windswept second day of the Masters at Augusta, as defending champion Jordan Spieth battled to maintain his lead and his composure.
Seeking a first green jacket in order to complete the career grand slam, McIlroy’s chances looked slim when he followed two early birdies with a double bogey on the fourth and bogeys on the fifth and 11th.
At that stage he was eight shots behind Spieth after the world No 2 birdied the first and third in pursuit of becoming just the fourth player after Jack Nicklaus, Nick Faldo and Tiger Woods to successfully defend the year’s first major championship.
However, Spieth who set records for the highest number of birdies (28) and lowest 36 and 54-hole totals in Masters history last year, then four-putted the fifth from 50 feet to run up a double bogey, bringing back unhappy memories of doing the same on the eighth hole in the final round of the Open at St Andrews last year.
A birdie on the eighth looked to have steadied the ship, but Spieth then bogeyed the ninth and 10th and was visibly and audibly annoyed at being timed for slow play as he wanted to wait for the wind to die down on his approach to the 11th.
A birdie at 15 took him three clear but he handed the shot back at the next.
McIlroy took full advantage with birdies on the 13th, 15th and 16th and the fist pump when he saved par from the trees on the 18th told its own story.
US Amateur champion Bryson DeChambeau, who was playing alongside Spieth, birdied the 11th, 12th and 15th but a bogey at 16 left him alongside McIlroy on three under, whose 71 equalled the lowest score of the day and left him one ahead of Danny Lee and Scott Piercy, who were also safely in the clubhouse.
Day carded a 73 yesterday to reach the halfway stage at one over.
“It was very difficult,” McIlroy told ESPN.
“It’s very hard to select a club. On the 12th tee I felt a little lull in the wind and hit it straight away. Once you get it where you feel it you have to hit it and trust it which is the hardest thing out there. I think anything under par today is a very good score.
“I definitely feel like I am coming in with not as much hype or anticipation as last year.
“You have Jordan as defending champion, Jason (Day) getting to No 1 off a couple of wins, Adam (Scott) having a couple of wins I felt I was just part of the narrative instead of just being the narrative and I like that position.
“I feel great. I feel so much better than I did yesterday.
“I played the last three holes on two over and today I played last six holes in three under today so I am really happy with how I battled and ground it out and I’ll have to do the same tomorrow.”
Ian Poulter’s hopes of winning a first major title were blown off course.
Poulter began the day just three shots off the overnight lead, but stumbled to a 78 after carding four bogeys and a double bogey on the 14th.
“It wasn’t as tough as yesterday,” the 40-year-old said. “It’s just disappointing to be marginally off around this golf course because that just shows you how difficult this golf course really is. Margins for error are really slim.
“You are always on edge on this golf course, especially when this wind is blowing.
“It’s tough, but that’s why we love this golf course. I walk off and shoot six over par, but I still love this golf course because it has given me what I deserved today.”
Tom Watson, playing in his final Masters, shot a 78 to finish alongside Scotland’s Russell Knox at eight over par.
The Scot carded a 73 after struggling to a 79 on Thursday.
Sandy Lyle shot 81 yesterday to finish at 13 over.