Live second-round action at Augusta National suggested that low scores would be hard to find on day two of The Masters 2026. Scott Clark was the only player out on the course in the morning who was under par for his round, a small early sample that pointed to a tougher scoring day than the first-round conditions had offered.
One player feeling that challenge was Tom McKibbin. The 23-year-old from Belfast is making his Masters debut, but it has not gone to plan. After a first-round 75, he opened his second round with three bogeys and a double bogey in his first five holes, dropping him to eight over par and well down the leaderboard.
McKibbin has also been part of a wider difficult week for the LIV Golf contingent. None of the tour’s 10 representatives broke par in the first round, and two of its biggest names, Bryson DeChambeau and Jon Rahm, posted rounds of 76 and 78 respectively. For players who arrived at Augusta among the pre-tournament favourites, the opening two days have already made the path to contention look increasingly narrow.
Wyndham Clark catches fire
While scoring proved demanding for some, Wyndham Clark offered a reminder that momentum can still be built quickly at Augusta National. The 2023 US Open champion made three birdies in a row, turning his round into one of the early highlights of the day.
Clark’s latest birdie came at the par-three fourth hole, where he hit his tee shot to eight feet and rolled in the putt with confidence. The 32-year-old from Denver has shown steady progress in the majors in recent seasons, including a tie for fourth at last year’s Open after a spell away from top-level form. That result added to the sense that he has been trending in the right direction at the biggest tournaments.
Augusta National, however, has not been one of his better venues so far. Clark has previously missed the cut once at The Masters and finished tied for 46th on another occasion. His strong start in the second round suggested he was trying to change that record and build a more meaningful week in Georgia.
As the second round unfolded, the contrast between players battling to keep themselves in the tournament and others trying to force their way up the standings became clear. With Augusta showing its usual ability to punish mistakes, the early signs pointed to a day where patience, accuracy and a few timely birdies would matter more than ever.
The tournament’s live leaderboard remained the key guide as players moved through their rounds, with the official standings tracking who could survive the tougher scoring conditions and who might struggle to stay in touch. By the opening stretch of play, the pressure had already begun to show on several names that had arrived with high expectations.
The Masters often turns quickly over the course of a Friday, and day two at Augusta National was already producing that familiar mix of frustration and opportunity. For some, the priority was simple survival. For others, like Wyndham Clark, the aim was to take advantage whenever the course gave up a chance.
More to follow as the second round continues.
