Summary

  • Leader: -9 Reed

  • Selected: -7 Leishman; -5 Stenson

  • -4 McIlroy, Spieth; -3 D Johnson, Thomas

  • -2 Finau, Fowler, Oosthuizen, Rose, Watson, Hoffman

  • -1 Kuchar, Rahm; Level Fleetwood; +4 Woods

  • +5 Poulter, Mickelson, Casey; +15 Garcia

  • Projected cut: +5

  1. Postpublished at 19:19 British Summer Time 6 April 2018

    T Woods +2, M Leishman -4, T Fleetwood -1 (2)

    Only the length of a stretched limo - the kind that teenagers like to hire for their prom parties - separates Tommy Fleetwood from an eagle. The Southport fella doesn't give it enough gas, however, and the 47-footer grinds to halt about six feet short.

  2. Postpublished at 19:17 British Summer Time 6 April 2018

    M Kuchar -2, R Fowler -2 (12)

    Matt Kuchar is on the green in two at the par-five 13th, just like playing partner Rickie Fowler after a couple of corking drives and equally impressive approach shots.

    Both have a chance of an eagle. They're loitering around that leading group, looking for a way in.

    Rickie Fowler and Matt KucherImage source, Reuters
  3. Postpublished at 19:16 British Summer Time 6 April 2018

    T Woods +2, M Leishman -4, T Fleetwood -1 (2)

    Someone fetch a hose. Marc Leishman is on fire. The co-leader deftly knocks to within a couple of feet of a birdie, before Woods also judges his approach perfectly.

    Leishman has also been joined at the top by Patrick Reed, who has birdied the third. We suspect the Aussie will out on his own again in a moment or two...

  4. Cabrera Bello joins the leadpublished at 19:13 British Summer Time 6 April 2018

    R Cabrera Bello -4 (-10)

    This has been some second round from Rafa Cabrera Bello. The Spaniard could be soaring ahead if it wasn't for a card littered with early bogeys.

    He's just made his fifth birdie of the day at the par-four 10th to move to four under and take a share of the lead.

    Rafael Cabrera-BelloImage source, Reuters
  5. Postpublished at 19:13 British Summer Time 6 April 2018

    T Woods +2, M Leishman -4, T Fleetwood -1 (2)

    Hang on! You thought Tiger was big? Tommy Fleetwood has just driven the green!

    Fleetwood has averaged 314.10 yards on the European Tour this year and shows his muscle again on the third. His line is just right of Tiger's, meaning his ball has a lower incline to hop over and nestle on the putting surface.

    An eagle putt awaits...

  6. Postpublished at 19:10 British Summer Time 6 April 2018

    T Woods +2, M Leishman -4, T Fleetwood -1 (2)

    On to the third... Marc Leishman has the big dog in his hand. A 350-yard par four stretches out in front of him.

    Up ahead are Zach Johnson, Martin Kaymer and Branden Grace, who have a quick glance behind when they hear a ball bounding up from behind.

    Leishman is about 10 yards short of the green - and then is outdriven by Tiger Woods. Only the slope protecting the front of the green stops the 14-time major winner's drive interrupting the putting party.

    Tiger WoodsImage source, Getty Images
  7. Will Sergio join the club?published at 19:10 British Summer Time 6 April 2018

    S Garcia +9 (1)

    Sergio Garcia is up and running for the day with a par, the defending champion is attempting to fight his way back from nine over after that disastrous 13 on the 15th yesterday. He could join a small club of Masters winners to miss the cut on their next outing at Augusta...

    Missed cutImage source, BB
  8. Postpublished at 19:07 British Summer Time 6 April 2018

    R McIlroy -2 (11), J Spieth -2 (10)

    Rory McIlroy opened his round in a turbulent nature, but the Northern Irishman has plateaued with six successive pars - keeping him on the fringes of the leading pack.

    Jordan Spieth, the overnight leader, has also found a bit of consistency after his dreadful start, with four pars on the bounce.

    Rory McIlroyImage source, Reuters
  9. Postpublished at 19:06 British Summer Time 6 April 2018

    T Woods +2, M Leishman -4, T Fleetwood -1 (2)

    Marc is off the Leish! Sorry.

    Leishman goes top of the pops by sinking his birdie putt - that's a birdie-birdie start. Twit twoo.

    Tommy Fleetwood makes it a pair by holing out and moving into the red, before Tiger Woods makes sure he doesn't drop another shot.

  10. Postpublished at 19:03 British Summer Time 6 April 2018

    T Woods +2, M Leishman -3, T Fleetwood E (1)

    Tiger Woods has no hope of an eagle on the second either. He lays up his second after that stroke of fortune with his first, then knocks a wedge past the flag. He's hoping it will roll gently back down the green and within putting distance, but ball stubbornly clings onto grass and leaves him with a 31-footer.

    More importantly, a good swish of the wedge here for Marc Leishman will leave him with another birdie chance. And that will mean the outright lead. Excellent stuff from the 34-year-old Aussie whose controlled chip leaves him with a seven footer.

  11. Bogey for Kuchar, double for Mickelsonpublished at 19:01 British Summer Time 6 April 2018

    M Kuchar -2, R Fowler -2, P Mickelson +3 (12)

    Rickie Fowler is waiting patiently as his playing partners take the scenic route to the green. Matt Kuchar went via the trees, sold his approach short and now has a close-range putt for bogey.

    Phil Mickelson faces a much longer run in to make it just one dropped shot. It fizzes just wide of the rim, and he pokes home for double bogey to slip six shots from the lead.

    Fowler's superb tee shot leaves him with a chance to take a share of top spot. It stays up. An opportunity goes begging, but he stays on two under.

    Matt KucharImage source, Getty Images
  12. Postpublished at 19:00 British Summer Time 6 April 2018

    T Woods +2, Leishman -3, T Fleetwood E (1)

    Tommy Fleetwood, long mane whipping in the Augusta wind, goes for the green in two on the second. We've seen two eagles here today, can he give himself a chance of being the third? Nope. The Englishman's shot takes a kick right off a ridge and ends up in the bunker.

  13. Postpublished at 18:56 British Summer Time 6 April 2018

    T Woods +2, Leishman -3, T Fleetwood E (1)

    Think that's what you call a 'member's bounce'. Tiger unleashes a drive on the second that fires off left but ends up on the fairway after clattering into the trees. Leishman goes right, while Fleetwood goes up the middle.

  14. Henley holes a monsterpublished at 18:56 British Summer Time 6 April 2018

    Henley +3 (15)

    What a putt from Russell Henley, it's an 82-footer on the 15th for an eagle - not quite as long as the one the late great Terry Wogan holed in the pro-celebrity series but it has got the American back to three over for the event.

    Russell HenleyImage source, Getty Images
  15. Postpublished at 18:56 British Summer Time 6 April 2018

    M Kuchar -3, R Fowler -2, P MIckelson +1 (11)

    Where does Lefty take his drop? We saw Tiger dilly dallying at this point yesterday. Mickelson pops it just shy of the bank, and holds a nervous breath after his clipped approach catches the fringes of the green, before kicking on.

  16. Mickelson finds the waterpublished at 18:53 British Summer Time 6 April 2018

    M Kuchar -3, R Fowler -2, P MIckelson +1 (11)

    "Bite, bite, bite..." says Matt Kuchar at the par-three 12th, playing 156 yards on day two. And he gets some luck. It rattles the woodland behind and rebounds towards the green.

    Rickie Fowler doesn't need any good fortune when he's in this kind of form. The American gives himself an excellent birdie chance with a superbly floated tee shot.

    Phil Mickelson plays last. It's short, and it's in the water! Rae's Creek gobbles that one up. Grimaces across the face of the 47-year-old.

  17. Postpublished at 18:53 British Summer Time 6 April 2018

    J Spieth -2 (9)

    If you're only just joining us then you might wondering what the heck has happened to Jordan Spieth. Other than being replaced his lesser-talented twin brother, we're not sure either.

    He started double bogey-bogey then added another bogey on the seventh. Successive pars on eight and nine means he turns in a birdieless 39 - the first time he hasn't sunk one on the front nine at Augusta.

    Jordan SpiethImage source, Reuters
  18. Mickelson bogeyspublished at 18:49 British Summer Time 6 April 2018

    M Kuchar -3, R Fowler -2, P MIckelson +1 (11)

    What happened there? Phil Mickelson teed himself up for a massive lobbed shot on to the green, his ball got about two yards off the surface and then dropped dead in front of him - like it had been patted down by an invisible, hovering being.

    Lefty opts for exactly the same shot, and take two is executed to perfection. The American coaxes it up to within inches of the pin. He sinks a bogey putt.

    Matt Kuchar decides he likes a bit of that and prods his own approach to a foot or so of the flag for par.

    Phil Mickelson and CaddieImage source, Getty Images
  19. Bogey for Woods, birdie for Leishmanpublished at 18:47 British Summer Time 6 April 2018

    T Woods +2, Leishman -3, T Fleetwood E (1)

    This is how Augusta makes you pay the price. Tiger Woods only skewed his wedge approach by a yard or two, but it was enough to throw him off track. His par putt comes just short and sends him backwards.

    Meanwhile, playing partner Marc Leishman sinks his birdie putt to make a confident start and take an eight-way share of the lead.

  20. Postpublished at 18:43 British Summer Time 6 April 2018

    McIlroy -2 (10)

    A fourth successive par for Rory, he was on the green in two at the long downhill par-four 10th but 28 feet from the hole and needed to sink a seven-footer to remain one off the lead at two under.