McIlroy roars, Scheffler lurks, Rose retains lead at Masters

Yahoo Sports senior writer Jay Busbee checks in from Augusta following Friday’s second round - which included Rory McIlroy’s surge up the leaderboard, Scottie Scheffler staying in contention and Justin Rose holding onto the lead heading into the weekend. Video Transcript You didn't really think Rory McIlroy was gonna eject from the Masters on a Thursday, did you? No, if McIlroy's gonna break our hearts, it's gonna be on a Sunday. One day after that Thursday round where he had two double bogeys and plummeted down the leaderboard.

McIlroy backed that up on Friday with a 6-under run that has him back in the heart of this chase and looking for that elusive green jacket. Once Ahead of him, Bryson DeShambo, who's using a combination of power and putting to challenge Augusta in a way that few people are able to, and it might just be working as Deanmbo tries to get his 3rd major. One stroke ahead of him, Justin Rose, 3 strokes up on the field on Thursday.



Madison have grown a little bit tighter on Friday, but Rose is still very much in contention. He's looking for his second major after that 2013 US Open. It's going to be a long weekend for him, but he's really set up very well for it.

And lurking, you still have Scotty Scheffler, the defending champion, a two-time major winner. He hasn't had his best stuff this week, but Scotty's mediocre stuff is better than most of the rest of the field can manage on their best day, and that's why Scheffler is still very much a threat. And let's pour one out for Bernard Langer.

The two-time major winner wrapped up his Masters career on Friday, just missing a putt that would have sent him into the weekend and made the cut. Longer had a great run at the Masters, and not just because he was the best dressed every time he stepped to the tee. Now this weekend, weather's looking great.

We've got some big names on the leaderboard. This is setting up for an exceptional Masters. Can McElroy get it done? Can Scheffler defend his green jacket? Can someone else step up and win the Masters? We're about to find out here at Augusta.

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