In a thrilling turn of events at The Masters, Rory McIlroy made an impressive comeback after a dismal first round, delivering the lowest second-round score at Augusta National Golf Club.

McIlroy now finds himself just two strokes behind the leader, Justin Rose, who managed to maintain his sole lead despite a dip in performance, shooting six strokes worse than his opening round.

While Rose held on, he faced stiff competition as a flurry of top players surged up the leaderboard. Currently, Bryson DeChambeau sits a mere shot behind in second place, closely followed by Scottie Scheffler, Shane Lowry, Jason Day, Collin Morikawa, and Ludvig Aberg, all within five strokes of the lead.

McIlroy's Stellar Recovery

On Friday, Rory McIlroy struck back with a fantastic display of skill, showcasing four birdies and an eagle on the challenging par-five 13th hole, completing the round without a single bogey.

This stellar performance propelled him from even-par to an impressive six-under, positioning himself just two shots behind Rose and one behind DeChambeau. McIlroy will take on Saturday’s round alongside Corey Conners, who also shares a six-under score.

Friday’s round was the perfect redemption for McIlroy after a rocky finish the previous day. The coveted green jacket is once again within his sights, but he must outplay major champions like Scheffler and others lurking in the top spots.

Scheffler Battles Through Adversity

Reigning Masters champion Scottie Scheffler experienced a rollercoaster of a day, carding six birdies but counterbalanced by five bogeys for a one-under 71.

His toughest moment came at the 18th hole, where an errant tee shot led him into the woods. He managed to salvage a bogey, leaving him at five-under for the tournament.

While this fluctuating performance isn't what fans expect from Scheffler in high-stakes environments, he remains a formidable contender, just three shots behind Rose. Should he regain his usual consistency this weekend, he could very well turn the tides in his favor, putting pressure on those chasing the green jacket.

With the tournament heating up, all eyes are set on the next rounds as McIlroy and Scheffler battle not just against each other, but against the history and prestige of Augusta.