Score and leaderboard from second spherical at Augusta National | EUROtoday

McIlroy sounded with out concern in regards to the prospect. “I’ve built up a nice cushion at this point. I guess my mindset is just trying to keep playing well and keeping my foot on the gas,” he stated. “Don’t protect it. Go out and play freely, keep swinging. A big part of the lesson from the 2011 Masters to the 2011 US Open was: don’t get protective. Go out there and keep playing, keep trying to make birdies, stay as trusting and as committed as possible.”

McIlroy is aware of his pursuers effectively. In truth, he is aware of Patrick Reed solely too effectively. The divisive American noticed off McIlroy within the final pairing in 2018 to don his Green Jacket. And then, three years in the past, McIlroy took slightly revenge over Reed on the Dubai Desert Classic in an almighty ding dong that concerned the American throwing a tee on the Northern Irishman and a feud growing by way of the media.

It might nonetheless be scrumptious and following his 69, Reed agreed. “It’s one of those golf courses that if you go out and you post a low number, you just never know,” he stated. “That’s the thing about this course, when it starts playing this firm and fast. just have to wait and see what the weekend entails. At the same time I love the position I put myself in. Hopefully I can go out and have a good day tomorrow and have a good shot going into Sunday.”

One shot again of second is McIlroy’s Ryder Cup accomplice Tommy Fleetwood. The Englishman conjured two eagles in his 68 and with solely two blemishes on his card – on the primary and final – he might be relishing the problem of going two higher right here than two years in the past and one higher than his two runner-up finishes within the majors.