Justin Rose clings to Masters lead as DeChambeau, McIlroy, and Scheffler surge

Rose led by three strokes after the opening 18 holes at Augusta National after an opening 65 but couldn't replicate the same kind of form in his second round, mixing four birdies and three bogeys in a one-under 71 to take his total to eight-under-par 136 for the tournament.

That was still good enough for a one-stroke lead heading into the weekend, but with so many top players in the hunt right behind him, he's in for a real battle over the last two days.

"I think the leaderboard is stacking up very favorably for what looks like world-class players right up there," Rose said after his round. "So you're going to have to play great golf, and you're going to have to out there and want it and go for it and get after it.

Lying in second place one off the lead is American DeChambeau, who went one better after an opening 69 to card a second-round 68 that included five birdies and just one dropped shot. The American famously beat McIlroy on the final hole of last year's US Open to capture the trophy and is a proven major winner. Highlights of his round included four birdies in the first eight holes and a crucial par save on the 18th green.

"I was just patient. I knew it was going to be a testing windy day," DeChambeau said. "Placed the ball beautifully on greens for the most part. I thought I played some incredible golf.

"I saved par there (at 18) and grinded it out and that's what I was most proud about."

The round of the day belonged to McIlroy, however, who is looking to win the Masters to finally complete the career Grand Slam, having won the third of the four majors way back in 2014 but hasn't been able to add to his major tally since.

McIlroy looked to have thrown away his chances with two late double-bogeys on Thursday to card a level-par 72 but bounced back superbly on Friday, firing four birdies and an eagle on the par-five 13 to card a superb 66 - the lowest round of the day - to lie just two shots off the pace alongside Canada's Corey Conners in a tie for third place.

"I just had to remind myself I was playing well. I couldn't let two bad holes dictate the 16 good ones," McIlroy said. "To finish bogey-free for today I felt was really important."

"I've been really proud of how resilient I've been the whole way throughout my career, and I think today was just another example of that," he added.

"I was so frustrated last night because I played so well, and you can make these big numbers from absolutely nowhere on this golf course, just like the most benign position."

The presence of World No 1 Scheffler just a shot behind on five under can't be ignored, however. Rounds of 68 and 71 have the world's best player well-placed heading into the weekend on what is a leaderboard stacked full of talent.

As a late starter, Scheffler had to contend with the windiest conditions of the day and his scorecard showed it, featuring six birdies and five bogeys in a topsy-turvy one-under 71.

"Definitely the winds were up this afternoon, which made it pretty challenging," Scheffler said. "To get in at one-under felt good. Didn't have my A-game but managed to stay in the tournament."

Scheffler shares fifth place with England's Tyrrell Hatton and former Open champion Shane Lowry, who had rounds of 70 and 68 respectively.

Some big names follow on four under, four off the pace, including Australia's Jason Day and Ryder Cup duo Viktor Hovland and Rasmus Hojgaard, while the likes of Ludvig Aberg, Hideki Matsuyama, Patrick Reed and Collin Morikawa all finished at three under and are still very much in the hunt.

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