The wind picked up at Augusta National on Friday, but so did the intensity, as Round 2 of the Masters delivered a leaderboard stacked with international flair, major champions, and a familiar name at the top: Justin Rose.
On a gusty afternoon where winds touched 27 mph and flags whipped like rally banners, it was the English veteran who stayed steady, carding a second-round 71 to add to his brilliant opening 65. Rose heads into the weekend at 8-under, leading by one shot in what is now his third time holding the 36-hole lead at the Masters.
The 43-year-old, making his 20th appearance at Augusta, knows this terrain better than most—and it shows. With six top-10 finishes already on his Masters resume, including a playoff loss to Sergio Garcia in 2017 and a runner-up to Jordan Spieth in 2015, Rose has proven he has the game—and the patience—for Augusta. If he manages to slip on the green jacket come Sunday, he’ll not only collect his second major but also help England tie South Africa for second-most wins at the Masters (5), trailing only Spain (6).
Rose’s lead is anything but secure, though. Bryson DeChambeau, who is pounding drives to a tournament-leading 331.6-yard average, backed up his opening 69 with a sharp 68 to sit just one shot back at 7-under. He’s now tied with Xander Schauffele for most rounds in the 60s in majors since the start of 2024—with 10—and looks dialed in as he hunts for his second major title.
The star power continues just below, as Rory McIlroy reminded everyone he’s still chasing history—and doing so with style. After a rollercoaster 72 on Thursday that included two double bogeys, McIlroy bounced back with a blistering 66 on Friday, tying his second-lowest career round at Augusta. Now at 6-under, Rory is very much in the hunt for the one title that has eluded him. Only two men—Craig Stadler (1982) and Gay Brewer (1967)—have won the Masters after posting two or more doubles in the week, but if anyone can rewrite history, it’s McIlroy.
Joining him at 6-under is Canadian Corey Conners, who continues to be a Masters machine. With top-10 finishes in 2020, 2021, and 2022, plus a T9 at last year’s U.S. Open, Conners is quietly building a major championship resume worth watching. His calm, calculated style suits Augusta well, and he’ll be one to watch this weekend.
The leaderboard tightens from there, with a logjam at 5-under featuring Shane Lowry, Scottie Scheffler, Tyrrell Hatton, and Matt McCarty. Lowry fired a 68, matching his career-low round at Augusta for the fifth time—consistency the Irishman will hope to build on heading into Saturday.
Scheffler, the defending champion, was surgical through 24 bogey-free holes before finally dropping a shot at the par-4 7th. Still, the World No. 1 remains well-positioned and composed—traits that could make him dangerous over the weekend.
Hatton, meanwhile, is quietly having his best Masters yet, opening with rounds of 69-70 for his first-ever back-to-back sub-par rounds at Augusta. And Matt McCarty might be the story of the day: the lefty began his round double bogey-bogey and still managed to shoot a 68. In the last 22 years, only three players have gone under par in a round at the Masters after playing their first two holes at +3 or worse.
The Cut and the Chase
The cutline fell at 2-over 146, trimming the field to 53 professionals. Among those heading home: past champions and big names caught in Augusta’s swirling breezes and unforgiving slopes. But for those still in it, the weekend promises high drama.
With eight nations represented in the top nine, including England, Canada, the U.S., Ireland, and South Africa, this year’s Masters is shaping up to be a global showdown. Saturday’s "moving day" can't come soon enough.
Whether Rose can hold on, Bryson can overpower, Rory can break through, or someone further back can go low—Augusta is ready to tell another unforgettable story.
