Day two at the Masters brought another shift in momentum at Augusta National, with Rory McIlroy and Patrick Reed continuing to battle at the top of the leaderboard while several other players pressed forward in pursuit.
The action remained tight as the field moved through the second round, and the course again demanded precision from anyone hoping to make a move. Around Augusta, birdie chances came and went quickly, with even well-struck shots needing exact pace and direction to stay alive on the greens.
Clark stays in red after missing a birdie chance
Wyndham Clark had a strong look at birdie at the sixth, rolling a putt that appeared set to drop before it drifted slightly right near the hole. The miss kept him at three under for the tournament and three under for the round. Until then, he had been the only player on the course in red figures for the day, but others soon joined him.
Im Sungjae, who finished second on his debut at the November Masters in 2020, birdied both the seventh and eighth holes to move to three over overall and into red figures for his round. Freddie Couples also found some relief, birdieing the second to get back to five over. At 66, Couples was still receiving sympathy for the difficult stretch that had undone him the day before, when he made quadruple bogey, double bogey and double bogey in succession at the 15th, 16th and 17th.
His late stumble on Thursday had been especially costly, but the veteran remained part of the story as day two unfolded under the pressure and heat that can expose even the most experienced players.
Rai makes a composed start
Aaron Rai, the winner of the Par 3 Contest, opened his second round in composed fashion. He found the fairway at Tea Olive and set up a long birdie putt that brushed the edge of the cup. Rai remained at one under overall after a first round of 71 that had promised more after he turned in 33.
His start offered a reminder that Augusta still rewards patience as much as flair. A steady opening can be enough to stay in touch, especially if the putter begins to cooperate later in the round.
More movement on the board
Elsewhere, Clark’s run of consecutive birdies ended at five, though he still produced a fine tee shot at the sixth and used the slope on the green to bring the ball toward the front-left pin position. That left him with a putt from about 18 feet, one that looked makeable but not entirely straightforward on a course where even seemingly simple lines can break late.
The second round continued to build gradually, with players trying to avoid the mistakes that can quickly undo a promising start. Augusta National offered little room for error, and the leaderboard reflected that balance between control and aggression.
With the tournament still in its early stages, the picture remained fluid. McIlroy and Reed were in the thick of the contest at the top, while the likes of Clark, Rai, Sungjae and Couples each had different reasons to believe they could still shape the week ahead.
As the Masters moved through day two, the central challenge was unchanged: stay patient, make chances count, and survive the difficult holes that can alter everything in an instant.
