AUGUSTA, Georgia, (Reuters) – Golf’s young guns came out blazing at the Masters with 21-year-old Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland taking a two-shot lead over 23-year-old Australian Jason Day at the halfway mark yesterday.
Overnight leader McIlroy posted 69 for a 10-under-par of 134, while Day, playing alongside the Briton, streaked into contention with a spectacular 64 that was one off the championship record.
Four-times Masters winner Tiger Woods made some big noise as well with seven birdies from the eighth hole onward for a 66 that lifted him into a tie with South Korean K.J. Choi at seven-under-par 137.
Woods, who looked in danger of missing the cut after three bogeys in the first seven holes, capped off the roaring charge with a 10-foot birdie at the last.
Choi, who had taken over the lead at eight under par before late starter McIlroy teed off, shot 70 after dropping a stroke by three-putting the 18th for bogey.
McIlroy, who seized the British Open lead last year at St. Andrews with a 63 before soaring to a second-round 80, played strong and steady this time as he posted four birdies against a lone bogey on a hot, humid day that led to more low scoring.
“I’m feeling very comfortable on this golf course,” said McIlroy, who finished third in three of his last five major championships. “I’m two ahead at a major championship … You can’t be disappointed with that.”
The third youngster in the precocious group, Rickie Fowler, was no slouch either. The colorfully attired 22-year-old American shot 69 for 139, five shots off the pace.
“It was a lot of fun,” said Day, playing in only his third major. “I said to the boys this morning, Rory and Rickie, when we were walking up the first hole, ‘you know what, I’m going to have to start paying people to yell my name out because everyone is yelling their name out.
“It got a bit better on the back nine which was nice.”
Day made five birdies on the inward nine. “The atmosphere was great and all three of us played wonderful.”
On 138, four off the pace, were Australian Geoff Ogilvy and Spain’s Alvaro Quiros, who had shared the first-round lead.
Ogilvy posted 69 despite four-putting for double-bogey at the par-five second. The long-hitting Quiros, who fell victim to the shortest hole on the course when he double-bogeyed the par-three 12th, birdied the last to salvage a 73.
Before Woods’s charge, Fred Couples and Ricky Barnes were the only Americans on a distinctly international leaderboard.
Couples, the 1992 champion and crowd favourite in Augusta, shot 68 for 139, a total he shared with Barnes, who reached seven under par by the sixth hole before stumbling to a 71.
Also at five under par were world number two Lee Westwood of Britain, who registered a 67, and South Korean Yang Yong-eon, who had reached eight under par by the eighth hole before slipping back with three bogeys.
Defender Phil Mickelson treaded water with an even-par 72 for a two-under total of 142, eight strokes behind McIlroy.
“I left too many shots out there,” Mickelson said. “But that’s all in the past. We’ve got the weekend to look forward to.”
