Swingeth did the Cutsman’s axe. Swingeth, too, did a quartet of competitors as they moved to the top of the leader’s board. As happens so often around the Augusta National course, players move ahead, but not so distant that hope abandons the chasers. After 36 holes, the lead stands at eight-under par, with eleven golfers within four shots of the top dog. Half of the top twelve have a major championship to their credit, while the entire dozen has competed in either a Ryder or President’s Cup. There are no … wait, there is one long shot, one golfer with zero international caps nor major tournament experience, and that is southpaw Matt McCarty. If you picked him as your first-timer in the Masters Fantasy contest, you’re sitting pretty.

On a secondary note, our Gianni Magliocco wrote a piece on Paul McGinley’s assessment of Rory’s 15th hole on Thursday. McGinley said that great champions don’t do “that, ” which is to let outside influences impact them. Let’s be honest, other than Wethered, Hogan, Nicklaus, and Woods, there ain’t been any that weren’t influenced by distractions. Second, McGinley saying that Bhatia had any impact on Rory, shows that he doesn’t know Rory’s game. To suggest that McIlroy can only play quickly, is silly.

Enough controversy. Let’s move on to the five things that we learned on day two of the 2025 Masters tournament. It’s a formidable quintet, worthy of your attention.

Add another one to the list. Six birdies in the last eight holes. #themasters https://t.co/csVP5IPr1L pic.twitter.com/oAMW6p28o9

— The Masters (@TheMasters) April 11, 2025

Five: Corey continues to contend

Corey Conners was the 65 to 1 shot, one of the twenty who can win the Masters, as predicted by Rich Hunt of GolfWRX. On Friday at Augusta, he moved inside the top four with a two-under round of 70. His four birdies against two bogeys, was more than enough to keep the leader within site. Conners lost strokes at the 10th and 12th holes, thanks to a wide-right at the former, and a three-putt at the later. The Ontario native made up for the pair of miscues with birdies at two, eight, eleven, and thirteen. He’ll tee off with Rory McIlroy, in the penultimate pairing on Saturday. Welcome to the limelight, Corey!

In His Words: I’ve learned a lot in my prior finishes here, just knowing — kind of seeing what it takes. But yeah, I’ll just have lots of trust in my game and sort of remember the good things that I’ve done out here and trust the game plan. (Today) I think quite a bit harder. The wind was definitely — I’d say the direction was fairly consistent, but it was gusting around a little bit. So the wind velocity was up and down throughout the back nine depending on where you were on the golf course. It was a little bit tricky to judge. Some of the holes were playing quite tricky.

With a birdie on Azalea, Corey Conners returns to a tie for third. #themasters pic.twitter.com/xsDjf88Rmc

— The Masters (@TheMasters) April 11, 2025

Four: Rors roars back after late Thursday struggles

No matter what Paul McGinley or anyone else feels, Rory McIlroy is a great champion and a contender in the 2025 Masters tournament. Despite his ill-fated attempt at a post-green, up-and-down at the 15th, and a second stumble, two holes later, McIlroy finished at even-par 72 on Thursday. On Friday, the Northern Ireland stalwart cleared his mind and turned in a spotless scorecard. Four birdies joined a 13th-hole eagle, to total minus-six 66 on the day. McIlroy joins Corey Conners at six deep, two behind the leader. This isn’t to say that Rors was always in command and control, but the golf gods smiled a bit on him, in the end.

In His Words: Yeah, I only had — I think it was like 189 front. So it was — I don’t think it was really a decision to go for it or not, but it was — I was between a 4- and a 5-iron. And usually the ball comes out of it spinnier out of the pine straw. So I hit a 4-iron, and the follow-through, definitely I saved it, and I was glad that I hit 4-iron. I covered that little corner there.

But yeah, when the ball was in the air, I was like, you idiot, what did you do? It’s one of those ones, as well, it’s a pin that even if you do hit it into the hazard, it’s a pretty — not a routine up-and-down, but it’s a little easier than, say, where the pin was yesterday in that front section.

Yeah, I rode my luck a little bit with that second shot, but was nice to take advantage of it.

Roaring into contention. McIlroy eagles No. 13 and is now tied for fourth. #themasters pic.twitter.com/1i65HRkd33

— The Masters (@TheMasters) April 11, 2025

Three: I’ll be missing you

Finau, Koepka, and Scott. Bradley, Henley, and Kirk. A number of LIV golfers, alongside a number of former champions, and each of the amateurs. There is no way to endure a 36-hole cut at the Masters, without bidding farewell to a number of big-name golfers. For those who miss the cut, their experience could not be summed up better, than the words of Robert MacIntyre.

In His Words: Yeah, again, as much as I’m annoyed, I’m not really disappointed in the way I’ve played. Tee to green has been absolutely superb. Again, some nice short game shots. Putter has been hot the last wee while; it just didn’t turn up this week.

I went for a training camp at Isleworth. Greens were a wee bit slower than I was expecting. I came here and the greens are different. Wasn’t the best — if I was being picky, it wasn’t as good a prep as it was for Bay Hill. The greens at Isleworth before Bay Hill were concrete like glass, perfect for this. I went there last week, and they were slow and sluggish, like myself this week.

47 feet for birdie. Lucas Glover reads a winding putt to perfection. #themasters pic.twitter.com/BIXOFKQG9W

— The Masters (@TheMasters) April 11, 2025

Two: Bryson in the hunt again

Bryson DeChambeau is the aberration of LIV golfers. All of the great ones (Koepka, Smith, Johnson, Rahm) have lost their way since leaving the PGA Tour. DeChambeau added a second US Open title in 2024, dusting off none other than Rory McIlroy in the waning moments. DeChambeau now has his eyes set on a second major, perhaps the most coveted of all. He followed his day-one 69 with a 68, earning a spot in the final twosome on Saturday. Bryson’s one bogey on Friday came at the par-three 16th. Like many others, his tee shot failed to find the ledge where the hole was cut. Unlike others, he blew his approach putt some twelve feet past the hole. Unable to convert the par putt, he still found one more birdie at 17 to reach minus-seven through 36 holes.

In His Words: Well, it’s a daily battle. It’s not easy to try and be more conservative when you know the leaders are starting to run away from it and you get these little shelves in certain areas and these little fingers that you’ve got to hit the ball into, and you’ve got to hit a cut or a draw. You have to have every shot in the bag.

It’s just difficult to try to accomplish, I would say, just the goal of just being patient and being understanding. I feel like I’ve done that better over the course of time. But how do I balance it? Man, that’s a great question. I’d say only God knows.

Bryson DeChambeau sparks a roar from the bunker on No. 4. #themasters pic.twitter.com/IGQRhTq0wA

— The Masters (@TheMasters) April 11, 2025

One: Rose returns to the top

Justin Rose has extended the dream another day. The 2013 US Open champion, and 2017 Masters runner-up, preserved his day-one lead with a day-two 71. The round was not nearly as clean as the one he turned in on Thursday, but it did the job. Four birdies against three bogeys kept Rose one shot clear of the field. That he was able to do so, as a member of the afternoon-morning brigade, was testimony to his patience and perseverance.

In His Words: Yeah, I think overall it felt like a pretty quick turnaround from yesterday evening, getting into this morning, which is good, obviously, off the back of a good round. You want to try to go out there and keep the momentum going.

There’s a bit of a sense that the course is playing a little bit differently today. A bit windier, for sure, out of a slightly different direction. So just trying to make some of those adjustments. I think it was a fairly favorable wind for the golf course in general, which is why I think you’re seeing some good scores.

From my point of view, decent day for sure. My wedge kept me, some really good up-and-downs, actually on holes like No. 4, No. 8, No. 10. So that kind of really kept — the round was in a good spot at that point. Nice birdie at 12.

And then, yeah, the finish obviously just a few too many 5s coming in. Didn’t really take advantage of the par 5s, although they were both playing tough today. They were into the wind. It didn’t feel like there was much value in trying to force birdies out of those holes.

And then made, yeah, two good swings on 14 and 17, but just misjudgments on the conditions and the wind. Those two 5s could have been two birdie putts quite easily and would have changed the complexion of the round a little bit.

Overall, under par, in a great position going into the weekend.

Justin Rose goes right at it on No. 12 en route to a birdie. He extends his lead to three. #themasters pic.twitter.com/tioTsIzC9h

— The Masters (@TheMasters) April 11, 2025