Justin Rose. Photo: PHOTOSPORT
First-round leader Justin Rose maintained the top spot through the second round of the Masters by shooting one-under-par 71 at Augusta National Golf Club.
But Englishman Rose's lead has been reduced to one stroke and there are several big-name golfers in close pursuit going into the weekend.
Rose is at eight-under, with Bryson DeChambeau using a 68 to close within one stroke. Northern Ireland's Rory McIlroy (66 on Saturday) is at six-under alongside Canada's Corey Conners (70).
Defending champion Scottie Scheffler (71), Matt McCarty (68), England's Tyrrell Hatton (70) and Ireland's Shane Lowry (68) are at five-under.
It looked like Hatton may have been in position to catch Rose until bogeys on the 16th and 17th holes.
PGA golfer Scottie Scheffler. Photo: Brian Spurlock/Icon Sportswire
Rose had four birdies and three bogeys. He was nearly finished with the round before Scheffler got started.
DeChambeau, benefiting from a bunker shot that resulted in a birdie at the fourth, played the front nine in four-under before a bunch of pars interrupted only by a bogey on 16th and a par on the next hole.
McIlroy got rolling on the back side with four birdies and an eagle.
McCarty notched four consecutive birdies (Nos. 6-9) on the way to 67 as one of the second round's early finishers.
McCarty, in the Masters for the first time, had a horrid start at three-over through two holes. Even with a bogey on the last hole, he's at five-under for the tournament.
Australia's Jason Day (70), Denmark's Rasmus Hojgaard (67) and Norway's Viktor Hovland (69) are at four-under.
South Korea's Sungjae Im reached six-under for the tournament through 14 holes but slumped late in the round. His 70 left him at three-under.
Two-time Masters champion Bernhard Langer of Germany missed the cut at three-over. He shot rounds of 74 and 73 in his 41st and final Masters.
Others falling outside the cut line include Dustin Johnson and Keegan Bradley at three-over, Fred Couples and Spain's Sergio Garcia at four-over, and Brooks Koepka, Adam Scott and Phil Mickelson at five-over.
- Reuters
