Day two of The Masters 2026 continued at Augusta National with several players trying to make headway as the tournament settled into its second-round rhythm. The focus remains on Rory McIlroy at the top of the leaderboard, but the action around him has been lively, with a number of players producing signs of momentum early in the round.
Wyndham Clark remained one of the more interesting stories on the course after his strong start to the day. He saw a birdie putt at the sixth hole look destined to drop before it drifted just enough to the right and stayed out. Even so, he remained at three under par for the tournament and for his round. Clark had already put together a promising run, and his tee shot at the sixth found the center of the green, leaving him another birdie chance from around 18 feet.
Clark was not the only player beginning to move into red figures for the day. Im Sungjae, who finished second on debut in the November Masters of 2020, birdied the seventh and eighth holes to move to three over par overall, but under par for his second round. It was a welcome lift after a difficult start to the championship.
Freddie Couples also found some encouragement early in his round. The veteran birdied the second hole to get back to five over par. His scorecard has already featured a dramatic stretch on Friday, but he showed some resilience by picking up a shot and steadying himself after a punishing finish to the previous day. Couples had endured a rough sequence at 15, 16 and 17 on Thursday, making a quadruple bogey, then a double bogey, then another double bogey, before closing out his round.
Earlier in the day, attention also fell on Aaron Rai, the Par 3 Contest winner. He began his second round calmly and with confidence, finding Tea Olive in regulation and rolling a long birdie attempt to the edge of the cup. Rai stayed at one under par after his opening-round 71, a score that looked capable of becoming even better after he had turned in 33.
Momentum building at Augusta
Rai’s start reflected the measured approach needed at Augusta National, where small errors can quickly become costly. His opening hole provided exactly the kind of steady foundation players hope for on a course that rarely gives much away.
Clark, meanwhile, saw a run of five straight birdies come to an end when he made par at the sixth. Even so, the tee shot he produced there was a strong one, settling in the middle of the green and setting up another legitimate opportunity. Around Augusta, that kind of position can be enough to keep pressure on the field, even when the putt does not fall.
The second round at The Masters remains a test of patience as much as scoring. Players are trying to attack where possible while avoiding the kinds of mistakes that can quickly change the shape of the tournament. With McIlroy holding the lead and several challengers working to close the gap, the leaderboard has the potential to shift quickly as the day goes on.
For now, the early signs suggest a contest that still has plenty of movement ahead. Clark continues to threaten, Rai has settled well, Sungjae has found some momentum, and Couples has managed to recover at least a little from the trouble he faced late on Thursday. As the round develops, Augusta National is once again demanding control, precision and nerve from every player in the field.
More to follow as the second round continues.
