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| -9 J Thomas (United States), D Johnson (United States), A Ancer (Mex), C Smith (Aus); -8 P Cantlay (USA), S Im (Kor), J Rahm 12 * (Spa), H Matsuyama 15 * (Jpn) |
| Others selected: -7 T Fleetwood (English), D Willett (English), J Rose (English); -6 P Casey 11 * (English); -5 P Mickelson (United States), B Koepka (United States); -4 T Woods 10 * (United States); -3 R McIlroy (NI), B Langer (Germany) |
| * indicates that the second round has not yet finished |
| Venue of events: Augusta National Date: November 12-15 |
| Coverage: Online radio and text commentary with playing clips. Featured newspapers on BBC Two – full details here |
Dustin Johnson is among four players leading the Masters at nine-under after setting the clubhouse goal during a hectic day two at Augusta.
Justin Thomas, Abraham Ancer and Cameron Smith sit next to world number one as benign conditions saw early starters enjoy low scores.
Tommy Fleetwood and 2016 champion Danny Willett reached 66s from six under to go to seven under with Justin Rose.
Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland also shot a 66 when he went up to three low.
However, 46 of the 92 players will have to return to complete their second round at 12:30 GMT on Saturday after the fading light reduced Friday’s game.
Thursday’s night leader Paul Casey will be one of those heading out Saturday morning in Augusta. He had a bogey and 10 pairs on the 11 holes that he managed to complete and will resume with a 10-foot birdie putt at par three 12.
Defending champion Tiger Woods was level through the day to the 10th to remain four below par.
However, the erratic tournament by pre-Masters favorite Bryson DeChambeau continued as four birdies were countered by four bogeys and a triple bogey seven in the third after losing his ball.
It leaves the US Open champion one more with six to play and scrambling to make the cut, though the American will resume his round with a putt for an eagle at par five 13.
Spain’s Jon Rahm and Japan’s Hideki Matsuyama were the only players among the late starters to make a substantial move over the leaders, moving up to eight under par.
Rahm was five under par the day after 12 when the horn sounded to signal the end of the game after five birdies in a flawless round thus far.
DJ sets the pace in Augusta
Johnson missed two tournaments in preparation for Augusta after testing positive for Covid-19, but came back to finish second in Houston last week.
The 36-year-old is looking for his first green jacket and has taken his form to the Masters, finishing his 65th start on Friday morning before pulling out 70 later that day.
He had threatened to walk away while leading 3v10 under after four holes, but successive bogeys stalled his progress.
However, the American finished with a birdie at 18 to regain some of the top spot.
The 44 players who did not complete the first round on Thursday, due to delays caused by a thunderstorm, faced rapid change before starting the second.
The momentum was with Johnson as he rolled three successive birdies through Amen Corner, only to bogey at 14 and land another shot after finding the water at par five 15.
“I felt like I played really well, I took a lot of good shots and had a lot of looks at birdies, but I couldn’t get him into the hole,” said Johnson, whose only big win to date is the 2017 US Open.
Various challengers to Johnson’s early lead came and went before Mexico’s Ancer and Australian Smith made their moves.
Thomas was one of those who shared the top spot earlier in the day after turning around with four straight birdies.
The world number three went down with a double bogey at first after dragging a puck into the pines and then hitting a tree trunk, but produced a strong recovery.
Ancer’s best finish in a major is tied for 16th at last year’s US PGA Championship, but he registered six birdies after an opening bogey to lead in his first Masters appearance.
Smith, who finished fifth at Augusta in 2018, produced a 68-year roller coaster round that included six birdies, an eagle and four bogeys.
English threesome in contention
Willett produced the best moment of his career when he won the Masters four years ago, his only major, but he has failed to make the cut in all three tournaments since.
However, the 33-year-old will be in the mix this weekend, after shooting Friday’s lowest round of 66 that seemed out of reach when he started with a double bogey in the 10th.
“It’s still surreal, it’s still an incredible place to go. An incredibly special place,” said Willett, who responded with an eagle at 13 and six birdies to get within two shots of the leader.
Compatriot Fleetwood is still looking for his first major title and also got off to a bad start when he bogeyed the first, but bounced back with three straight birdies and seven overall to join Willett at seven under par.
Rose, looking to go one better than her runners-up in 2015 and 2017, completed her first round with a scrambled 67 and added a 70 later in the day that featured five birdies and two bogeys.
“I felt like I played well enough to win the tournament, I know I can win, but I still don’t have an arm in a jacket,” said the 40-year-old.
“I’ve played in that final group a couple of times and I really enjoyed it.”
McIlroy gave an exhilarating talk
Co-leader Johnson was in a group with McIlroy, who endured a torrid nine-finish final when he completed his first round, but rebounded with an impressive 66 without bogey that included six birdies.
McIlroy’s 75th start was the worst in 12 Masters appearances and the world number five revealed that he was speaking to his friend and Augusta National member Jimmy Dunne between rounds.
“Jimmy gave me a pep talk between rounds and then on the field,” he said. “Honestly, I’ve been playing really good coming here, and then I go into the first round and throw 75, and I think, ‘where did that come from?’
“I knew it was there, it was just a matter of trusting a little more and being committed.
“Hopefully I have my eye on the last 18 holes and I need a pretty similar couple of days over the weekend to give myself a chance.”
South Korean prospect Sungjae Im also briefly shared the lead with Johnson, heading into the weekend eight under par.
At age 63, two-time champion Bernhard Langer will become the oldest player to make the cut in a Masters at three-under.
