Pre-tournament favourites Jordan Spieth and Rory McIlroy looked up at the leaders after 36 holes at the Masters, but it’s just a view they embrace. Sergio Garcia, Rickie Fowler, Charley Hoffman and Thomas Pieters, one of 19 rookies in the field, all set the pace after the second round at Augusta National in what is shaping up as a riveting weekend of golf.
Garcia shot 69 and is in at 4-under-par 140, along with Hoffman, the first-round leader, who shot 75; Pieters, who had 68; and Fowler, with 67, the low round of the day. Fowler went out in 32, with an eagle at the second hole, where he holed a bunker shot.
A distinguished list of pursuers that includes Masters winners Fred Couples, Spieth, Phil Mickelson, and Charl Schwartzel - all within six strokes after the second round. Couples, the 57-year-old winner of the 1992 Masters, always finds a way to compete with the youngsters. He shot 70 to move to 1-under, tied for sixth. Spieth’s 69 left him at even par, along with Mickelson, who shot 73. Schwartzel was at 146 after a 72. Other major champions in the mix include Justin Rose (72-143), McIlroy (73-145) and Martin Kaymer (68-146).
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